Therapeutic treatment and prevention of infections with a bioactive materials encapsulated within a biodegradable-biocompatible polymeric matrix

ABSTRACT

Novel burst-free, sustained release biocompatible and biodegrable microcapsules which can be programmed to release their active core for variable durations ranging from 1-100 days in an aqueous physiological environment. The microcapsules are comprised of a core of polypeptide or other biologically active agent encapsulated in a matrix of poly(lactide/glycolide) copolymer, which may contain a pharmaceutically-acceptable adjuvant, as a blend of upcapped free carboxyl end group, and end-capped forms ranging in ratios from 100/0 to 1/99.

II. CROSS REFERENCE

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/789,734 filed Jan. 27, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,309,669, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/590,973 filed Jan. 24, 1996, now abandoned, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/446,149 filed May 22, 1995, now abandoned, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 06/590,308 filed Mar. 16, 1984, now abandoned, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/446,148 filed May 22, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,410,056, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/867,301 filed Jun. 2, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,426.

I. GOVERNMENT INTEREST

The invention described herein may be manufacture, used and licensed by or for the Government for Govermental purposes without the payment to use of any royalties thereon.

III. FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to compositions comprising active core material(s) such as biologically active agent(s), drug(s) or substance(s) encapsulated within an end-capped or a blend of uncapped and end-capped biodegradable-biocompatable poly(lactide/glycolide) polymeric matrix useful for the effective prevention or treatment of bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic infections, and combinations thereof. In the areas of general and orthopedic surgery, and the treatment of patients with infectious or chronic disease conditions, this invention will be especially useful to physicians, dentists and veternarians.

IV. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wounds characterized by the presence of infection, devitalized tissue, and foreign-body contaminants have high infection rates and are difficult to treat.

To prevent infection, in bone and soft tissue systemic antibiotics must be administered within 4 hours after wounding when circulation is optimal. This has been discussed by J. F. Burke in the article entitled “The Effective Period of Preventive Antibiotic Action in Experimental Incisions and Dermal Lesions”, Surgery, Vol. 50, Page 161 (1961). If treatment of bacterial infections is delayed, a milieu for bacterial growth develops which results in complications associated with established infections. (G. Rodeheaver et al., “Proteolytic Enzymes as Adjuncts to Antibiotic Prophylaxis of Surgical Wounds”, American Journal of Surgery, Vol. 127, Page 564 (1974)). Once infections are established it becomes difficult to systemically administer certain antibiotics for extended periods at levels that are safe and effective at the wound site. Unless administered locally, drugs are distributed throughout the body, and the amount of drug hitting its target is only a small part of the total dose. This ineffective use of the drug is compounded in the trauma patient by hypovolemic shock, which results in a decreased vascular flow to tissues. (L. E. Gelin et al., “Trauma Workshop Report:Schockrheology and Oxygen Transport”, Journal Trauma, Vol. 10, Page 1078 (1970)).

Additionally, infections caused by multiple-antibiotic resistant bacterial are on the up-swing and we are on the verge of a potential world-wide medical disaster. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 13,300 patients died in U.S. hospitals in 1992 from infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is rapidly emerging as the “pathogen of the 90's”:

-   -   a. Some major teaching hospitals in U.S. report that up to 40%         of stains of S. aureus isolated from patients are resistant to         methicillin. Many of these MRSA strains are susceptible only to         a single antibiotic (vancomycin).     -   b. Should MRSA also develop resistance to vancomycin, the         mortality rate among patients who develop MRSA infections could         approach 80%, thereby increasing the threat of this infectious         killer.

Moreover, Vancomycin resistance is on the up-swing:

-   -   a. 20% of Enterococci are now resistant to vancomycin     -   b. In 1989, only one hospital in New York City reported         vancomycin-resistant Enterococci. By 1991, the number of         hospitals reporting vancomycin resistance rose to 38.     -   c. transfer of vancomycin-resistant gene (via plasmid) has been         shown experimentally between Enterococcus and S. aureus.

Many major pharmaceutical companies around the world have either completely eliminate or significantly reduced their research and development programs in the area of antibiotic research. According to a 1994 report by the Rockefeller University Workshop in Multiple Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria, we are on the verge of a “medical disaster that would return physicians back to the pre-penicillin days when even small infections could turn lethal due to the lack of effective drugs.”

Despite recent advances in antimicrobial therapy and improved surgical techniques, osteomyelitis (hard tissue or bone infection) is still a source of morbidity often necessitating lengthy hospitalization. The failure of patients with chronic osteomyelitis to respond uniformly to conventional treatment has prompted the search for more effective treatment modalities. Local antibiotic therapy with gentamicin-impregnated poly(methylmethacylate) (PMMA) bead chains (SEPTOPAL TM, E. Merck, West Germany) has been utilized in Germany for the treatment of osteomyelitis for the past decade and has been reported to be efficacious in several clinical studies. The beads are implanted into the bone at the time of surgical intervention where they provide significantly higher concentrations of gentamicin than could otherwise be achieved via systemic administration. Serum gentamicin levels, on the other hand, remain extremely low thereby significantly reducing the potential for nephro- and ototoxicity that occurs in some patients receiving gentamicin systemically.

Since SEPTOPAL TM is not currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States, some orthopedic surgeons in this country are fabricating their own “physician-made beads” for the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis. A major disadvantage of the beads, however, is that because the PMMA is not biodegradable it represents a foreign body and should be removed at about 2-weeks postimplantation thereby necessitating in some cases an additional surgical procedure. A biodegradable-biocompitable, antibiotic carrier, on the other hand, would eliminate the need for this additional surgical procedure and may potentially reduce both the duration as well as the cost of hospitalization.

The concept of local, sustained release of antibiotics into infected bone is described in recent literature wherein antibiotic-impregnated PMMA macrobeads are used to treat chronic osteomyelitis. The technique as currently used involves mixing gentamicin with methylmethacrylate bone cement and molding the mixture into beads that are 7 mm in diameter. These beads are then locally implanted in the infected site at the time of surgical debridement to serve as treatment. There are, however, significant problems with this method. These include: 1) initially, large amounts of antibiotics diffuse from the cement but with time the amount of antibiotic leaving the cement gradually decreases to subtherapeutic levels; 2) the bioactivity of the antibiotic gradually decreases; 3) methylmethacrylate has been shown to decrease the ability of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to phagocytze and kill bacteria; 4) the beads do not biodegrade and usually must be surgically removed; and 5) the exothermic reaction that occurs during curing of methymethacrylate limits the method to the incorporation of only thermostable antibiotics (primarily aminoglycosides). Nevertheless, preliminary clinical trials using these beads indicate that they are equivalent in efficacy to longer term (4-6 weeks) administration of systemic antibiotics.

In many instances, infectious agents have their first contact with the host at a mucosal surface; therefore, mucosal protective immune mechanisms are of primary importance in preventing these agents from colonizing or penetrating the mucosal surface. Numerous studies have demonstrated that a protective mucosal immune response can best be initiated by introduction of the antigen at the mucosal surface, and parenteral immunization is not an effective method to induce mucosal immunity. Antigen taken up by the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), primarily by the Peyer's patches in mice, stimulates T helper cell (Th) to assist in IgA B cell responses or stimulates T suppressor cells (Ts) to mediate the unresponsiveness of oral tolerance. Particle antigen appears to shift the response towards the (Th) whereas soluble antigens favor a response by the (Ts). Although studies have demonstrated that oral immunization does induce an intestinal mucosal immune response, large doses of antigen are usually required to achieve sufficient local concentrations in the Peyer's patches. Unprotected protein antigens may be degraded or may complex with secretory IgA in the intestinal lumen.

In the process of vaccination, medical science uses the body's innate ability to protect itself against invading agents by immunizing the body with antigens that will not cause the disease but will stimulate the formation of antibodies that will protect againts the disease. For example, dead organisms are injected to protect against bacterial diseases such as typhoid fever and whooping cough, toxins are injected to protect against viral diseases such as poliomyelitis and measles.

It is not always possible, however, to stimulate antibody formation merely by injecting the foreign agent. The vaccine preparation must be immunogenic, that is, it must be able to induce an immune response. Certain agents such as tetanus toxoid are innately immunogenic, and may be administered in vaccines without modification. Other important agents are not immunogenic, however, and must be converted into immunogenic molecules before they can induce an immune response.

The immune response is a complex series of reactions that can generally be described as follows:

-   -   1. the antigen enters the body and encounters antigen-presenting         cells which process the antigen and retain fragments of the         antigen on their surfaces;     -   2. the antigen fragment retained on the antigen presenting cells         are recognized by T cells that provide help to B cells; and     -   3. the B cells are stimulated to proliferate and divide into         antibody forming cells that secrete antibody against the         antigen.

Most antigens only elicit antibodies with assistance from the T cells and, hence, are known as T-dependent (TD). These antigens, such as proteins, can be processed by antigen presenting cells and thus activate T cells in the process described above. Examples of such T-dependent antigens are tetanus and diphtheria toxoids.

Some antigens, such as polysaccharides, cannot be properly processed by antigen presenting cells and are not recognized by T cells. These antigens do not require T cell assistance to elicit antibody formation but can activate B cells directly and, hence, are known as T-independent antigens (TI). Such T-independent antigens include H.influenzae type by polyribosyl-ribitol-phosphate and pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides.

T-dependent antigens vary from T-independent antigens in a number of ways. Most notably, the antigens vary in their need for an adjuvant, a compound that will nonspecifically enhance the immune response. The vast majority of soluble T-dependent antigens elicit only low level antibody responses unless they are administered with an adjuvant. It is for this reason that the standard DPT vaccine (diptheria, pertussis, tetanus) is administered with the adjuvant alum. Insolubilizadion of TD antigens into an aggregated form can also enhance their immunogenicity, even in the absence of an adjuvant. Golub E S and W O Weigle, J. Immunol. 102:389, 1969). In contrast, T-independent antigens can stimulate antibody responses when administered in the absence of an adjuvant, but the response is generally of lower magnitude and shorter duration.

Four other differences between T-independent and T-dependent antigens are:

-   -   a) T-dependent antigens can prime an immune response so that a         memory response can be elicited upon secondary challenge with         the same antigen. Memory or secondary responses are stimulated         very rapidly and attain significantly higher titers of antibody         that are seen in primary responses. T-indepenant antigens are         unable to prime the immune system for secondary responsiveness.     -   b) The affinity of the antibody for antigen increases with time         after immunization with T-dependent but not T-independent         antigens.     -   c) T-dependent antigens stimulate an immature or neonatal immune         system more effectively than T-independent antigens.     -   d) T-dependent antigens usually stimulate IgM, IgG1, IgG2a, and         IgE antibodies, while T-independent antigens stimulate IgM,         IgG1, IgG2b, and IgG3 antibodies.

These characteristics of T-dependent vs. T-independent antigens provide both distinct advantages and disadvantages in their use as effective vaccines. T-dependent antigens can stimulate primary and secondary responses which are long-lived in both adult and in neonatal immune systems, but must frequently be administered with adjuvants. Thus, vaccines have been prepared using only an antigen, such as diphtheria or tetanus toxoid, but such vaccines may require the use of adjuvants, such as alum for stimulating optima responses. Adjuvants are often associated with toxicity and have been shown to nonspecifically stimulate the immune system, thus inducing antibodies of specificities that may be undesirable.

Another disadvantage associated with T-dependent antigens is that very small proteins such as peptides, are rarely immunogenic, even when administered with adjuvants. This is especially unfortunate because many synthetic peptides are available today that have been carefully synthesized to represent the primary antigenic determinants of various pathogens, and would otherwise make very specific and highly effective vaccines.

In contrast, T-independent antigens, such as polysaccharides, are able to stimulate immune responses in the absence of adjuvants. Unfortunately, however, such T-independent antigens cannot stimulate high level or prolonged antibody responses. An even greater disadvantage is their inability to stimulate an immature or B cell defective immune system (Mond J. J., Immunological Reviews 64:99, 1982) Mosier D E, et al., J. Immunol. 119:1874, 1977). Thus, the immune response to both T-independent and T-dependent antigens is not satisfactory for many applications.

With respect to T-independent antigens, it is critical to provide protective immunity against such antigens to children, especially against polysaccharides such as H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae. With respect to T-dependent antigens, it is critical to develop vaccines based on synthetic peptides that represent the primary antigenic determinants of various pathogens.

One approach to enhance the immune response to T-independent antigens involves conjugating polysaccharides such H. influenzae PRP (Cruse J. M., Lewis R. E. Jr. ed., Conjugate vaccines in Contributions to Microbiology and Immunology, vol. 10, 1989) or oligosaccharide antigens (Anderson P W, et al., J. Immunol. 142:2464, 1989) to a single T-dependent antigen such as tetanus or diphtheria toxoid. Recruitment of T cell help in this way has been shown to provide enhanced immunity to many infants that have been immunized. Unfortunately, only low level antibody titers are elicited, and only some infants respond to initial immunizations. Thus, several immunizationa are required and protective immunity is often delayed for months. Moreover, multiple visits to receive immunizations may also be difficult for families that live distant from medical facilities (especially in underdeveloped countries). Finally, babies less than 2 months of age may mount little or no antibody response even after repeated immunization.

One possible approach to overcoming these problems is to homogeneously disperse the antigen of interest within the polymeric matrix of appropriately sized biodegradable-biocompatible microspheres that are specifically taken up by GALT. Eldridge et al. have used a murine model to show that orally-administered 1-10 micrometer microspheres consisting of polymerized lactide and glycolide, (the same materials used in resorable sutures), were readily taken up into Peyer's patches, and the 1-5 micrometer size were rapidly phagocytized by macrophages. Microspheres that were 5-10 micrometers (microns) remained in the Peyer's patch for up to 35 days, whereas those less than 5 micrometer disseminated to the mesenteric lymph node (MLN) and spleen within migrating MAC-1+ cells. Moreover, the levels of specific serum and secretory antibody to staphylococcal enterotoxin B toxoid and inactivated influenza A virus were enhanced and remained elevated longer in animals which were immunized orally with microencapsulated antigen as compared to animals which received equal doses of non-encapsulated antigen. These data indicate that microencapsulation of an antigen given orally may enhance the mucosal immune response against enteric pathogens. AF/R1 pili mediate the species-specific binding of E. coli RDEC-1 with mucosal glycoproteins in the small intestine of rabbits and are therefore an important virulence factor. Although AF/R1 pili are not essential for E. coli RDEC-1 to produce enteropathogenic disease, expression of AF/R1 to produce enteropathogenic disease, expression of AF/R1 promotes a more severe disease. Anti-AF/R1 antibodies have been shown to inhibit the attachment of RDEC-1 to the intestinal mucosa and prevent RDEC-1 disease in rabbits. The amino acid sequence of the AF/R1 pilin subunit has recently been determined, but specific antigenic determinants within AF/R1 have not been identified.

In the current study we have used these theortical criteria to predict probable T or B cell epitopes from the amino acid sequence of AF/R1. Four different 16 amino acid peptides that include the predicted epitopes have been synthesized; AF/R1 40-55 as a B cell epitope, 79-94 as a T cell epitope, 108-123 as a T and B cell epitope, and AF/R1 40-47/79-86 as a hybrid of the first eight amino acids from the predicted B cell epitope and the T cell epitope. We have used these peptides as well as the native protein to stimulate the in vitro proliferation of lymphocytes taken from the Peyer's patch, MLN, and spleen of rabbits which have received introduodenal priming with microencapsulated or non-encapsulated AF/R1. Our results demonstrate the microencapsulation of AF/R1 potentiates the cellular immune response at the level of the Peyer's patch, thus enhancing in vitro lymphocyte proliferation to both the native protein and its linear peptide antigens. CFA/I pili, rigid thread-like structures which are composed of repeating pilin subunits of 147 amino acid found on serogroups 015, 025, 078, and 0128 of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) (1-4, 18). CFA/I promotes mannose resistant attachment to human brush borders (5); therefore, a vaccine that established immunity against this protein may prevent the attachment to host tissues and subsequent disease. In addition, because the CFA/I subunit shares N-terminal amino acid sequence homology with CS1, CPA/II (CS2) and CFA/IV (CS4) (4), a subunit vaccine which contained epitopes from this area of the molecule may protect against infection with various ETEC.

Until recently, experiments to identify these epitopes were time consuming and costly; however, technology is now available which allows one to simultaneously identify all the T cell and B cell epitopes in the protein of interest. Multiple Peptide synthesis Repscan) is a technique for the simultaneous synthesis of hundreds of peptides on polyethylene rods (6). We have used this method to synthesize all the 140 possible overlapping actapeptides of the CFA/I protein. The peptides, still on the rods, can be used directly in ELISA assays to map B call epitopes (6. 12-14). We have also synthesized all the 138 possible overlapping decapeptides of the CFA/I protein. For analysis of T cell epitopes, these peptides can be cleaved from the rods and used in proliferation assays (15). Thus this technology allows efficient mapping and localization of both B cell and T cell epitopes to a resoluton of a single amino acid (16). These studies were designed to identify antigenic epitopes of ETEC which may be employed in the construction of an effective subunit vaccine.

CFA/I pill consist of repeating pilin protein subunits found on several serogroups of enterotoxigenic E coli (ETEC) which promote attachment to human intestinal mucosa. We wished to identify areas within the CFA/I molecule that contain imunodominant T cell epitopes that are capable of stimulating the cell-mediated portion of the immune response in primates as well as immunodominant B cell epitopes. To do this, we (a) resolved the discrepancy in the literature on the complete amino acid sequence of CFA/I, (b) immunized three Rhesus monkeys with multiple i.m. injections of purified CFA/I subunit in Freund's adjuvant, (c) synthesized 138 overlapping decapeptides which represented the entire CFA/I protein using the Pepscan technique (Cambridge Research Biochemicals), (d) tested each of the peptides for their ability to stimulate the spleen cells from the immunized monkeys in a proliferative assay (e) synthesized 140 overlapping octapeptides which represented the entire CFA/I protein, and (I) tested serum from each monkey for its ability to recognize the octapeptides in a modified ELISA assay. A total of 39 different CFA/I decapeptides supported a significant proliferative response with the majority of the responses occurring within distinct regions of the protein (peptides beginning with residues 8-40, 70-80, and 126-137). Nineteen of the responsive peptides contained a serine residue at positions 2, 3, or 4 in the peptide, and a nine contained a serine specifically at position 3. Most were predicted to be configured as an alpha holix and have a high amphipathic index. Eight B cell epitopes were identified at positions 3-11, 11-21, 22-29, 32-40, 38-45, 66-74, 93-101, and 124-136. The epitope at position 11-21 was strongly recognized by all three individual monkeys, while the epitopes at 93-101, 124-136, 66-74, and 22-29 were recognized by two of the three monkeys.

Recent advances in the understanding of B cell and T cell epitopes have improved the ability to select probably linear epitopes from the amino acid sequence using theoretical criteria. B cell epitopes are often composed of a string of hydrophilic amino acids with a high flexibility index and a high probability of turns within the peptide structure. Prediction of T cell epitopes are based on the Rothbard method which identifies common sequence patterns that are common to known T cell epitopes or the method of Berzofsky and others which uses a correlation between algorithms predicting amphipathic helices and T cell epitopes.

V. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to active core materials such as biologically active agent(s), drug(s), or substance(s) encapsulated within a biodegradable biocompatable polymeric matrix. In view of the enormous scope of this invention it will be presented herein as Phases I, II, and III. Phase I illustrates the encapsulation of antibiotics within a biodegradable-biocompatable polymeric matrix for the prevention and treatment of wound infections. Phase II illustrates the encapsulation of antigens (more specifically, oral-intestinal vaccine antigens) within a biodegradable-biocompatable polymeric matrix against diseases such as those caused by enteropathogenic organism. Phase III illustrates the use of a biodegradable-biocompatible polymeric matrix for burst-free programmable sustained release of biologically active agents, inclusive of peptides, over a period of up to 100 days in an aqueous physiological environment.

Controlled drug delivery from a biodegradable-biocompatable matrix offers profound advantages over conventional drug/antigen dosing. Drugs/antigens can be used more effectively and efficiently, less drug/antigen is required for optimal therapeutic effect and, in the case of drugs, toxic side effects can be significantly, reduced or essentially eliminated through drug targeting. The stability of some drugs/antigens can be improved allowing for a longer shelf-life, and drugs/antigens with a short half-life can be protected within the matrix from destruction, thereby ensuring sustained release of active agent over time. The benefit of a continuous sustained release of drug/antigen is beneficial because drug levels can be maintained within a constant therapeutic range and antigen can be presented either continuously or in a pulsatile mode as required to stimulate the optimal immune response. All of this can be accomplished with a single dose of encapsulated drug/antigen.

This invention contemplates, but is not limited to, medically acceptable methods for the effective local delivery of biologically active agents that, of themselves, are directly (e.g. drugs, such as antibiotics) or indirectly (e.g. vaccine antigens) therapeutic or prophylactic. It also includes drugs/agents that elicit/modulate natural biological activity.

Wounds characterized by the presence of infection, devitalized tissue, and foreign-body contaminants have high infection rates and are difficult to treat. This invention describes antibiotic formulation encapsulated within microspheres of a biodegradable-biocompatable polymer that, when applied locally to contaminated or infected wounds, provides immediate, direct, and sustained (over a period up to 100 days), high concentrations of antibiotic in the wound site (soft tissue and bone). By encapsulating antibiotics and applying them directly, one can achieve a significant reduction in nonspecific binding of the drug to body proteins, a phenomena commonly observed following conventional systemic administration of free drugs. Thus, less drug is required, higher concentrations are maintained at the site of need, and efficacy is enhanced. This approach provides superior treatment over conventional systemic administration of antibiotics for wound infections because higher bacteriocidal concentrations can be achieved and maintained in the wound environment. Higher concentrations kill more bacteria. Applicants' invention for this application is described in Phase I. Furthermore, applicants reasoned that a protective mucosal immune response might be best initiated by introduction of an antigen at the mucosal surface, because unprotected protein antigens delivered in a free form may be degraded or may complex with secretory IgA in the intestinal lumen precluding entry and subsequent processing in local immune cells. The formulation of microspheres containing antigen small enough in size to be phagocytized locally in the gut was envisioned as being able to induce an elevated localized immune response. Applicants' invention for this application is described in Phase II. In summary, applicants propose using several methods for the local application of drugs including: 1) the direct application of the encapsulated drug to a surgical/traumatized area, 2) oral delivery that provides either local deposition of microencapsulated antigen/drugs at mucosal membranes or transport across these membranes to provide local adherence of microencapsulated drugs/antigen to mucosal membranes to provide sustained release of drug/antigen into soft tissue or a body cavity, and/or 3) sustained intercellular or extracelluar drug/antigen release following subcutaneous injection.

In those instances where antibiotics are administered locally, applicants have found that the controlled release of the antibiotic from within a biodegradable-biocompatable polymeric matrix within 14 days to about 4 weeks without significant drug trailing is especially useful. However, if desired, the release of a biologically active agent from a polymeric matrix comprised of an active agent and a blend of uncapped and end-capped biodegradable poly DL(lactide-co-glycolide), can be controlled over a period of 1 to about 100 days without significant drug dumping or trailing. Such novel biocompatible-biodegradable microspheres developed with a burst-free programmable sustained release of biologically active agents, inclusive of polypeptides, are described in applicants' U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/590,973 filed Jan. 24, 1996.

When antibiotics are administered systemically in the conventional manner, or locally as contemplated by the applicants, the immune response to the antibiotic and the potential for hypersensitivity and/or anaphylactoid response (especially to beta-lactam antibiotics such as penicillins/ampicillin) is a clinical concern. In early studies the inventors observed a specific IgG response to ampicillin as it was released from the microencapsulated formulation (illustrated in the histogram, FIG. 1 and 2). This response is reminiscent of antibody elicited by vaccine antigens in conventional vaccines. The response to vaccine antigens is known to be accentuated by the use of an adjuvant such as alum. Alum is a crude, less adaptable delivery vehicle than its counterpart, the biodegradable-biocompatable poly DL(lactide-co-glycolide), of this invention—the polymeric matrix. This knowledge stimulated additional studies relevant to the effects of sustain release of agents on the immune response.

There are, in general, two forms of locain delivery which can be achieved with PLGA microspheres-delivery which is localized to individual cells of the body (intracellular delivery); and delivery which is localized to tissues within a specific region of the body (localized extracellular delivery).

Applicants have prepared antibiotic and hepatitis vaccine formulations which functioned by delivering extracellular doses of their active agents. This was achieved by using relatively large microsphercs which served as a depot for the drug or antigen. Their large size 40-100 microns in diameter precluded their being phagocytized or diffusing throughout the intercellular fluid compartments of the body. Their drug agent loads were thus released within their immediate vicinity which resulted in the generation of very high local concentrations of antibiotic or the release of sufficiently high concentrations of free antigen to induce an immune response.

The large-diameter antibiotic bearing microspheres were orginally developed by applicants primarily for topical application on exposed debrided tissues of combat wounds. However, an inherent property exhibited by the antibiotics when topically applied to a wound site is the generation of measurable levels of immune response. This concept of local delivery by topical application of microspheres to tissue to achieve localized concentrations of therapeutic agents was subsequently applied to the development of an oral vaccine for protection against traveler's diarrhea caused by E. coli. Vaccine antigen was encapsulated into microspheres whose diameters were predominantly in the 5-10 micron size range based on an understanding that microspheres of this size would not readily be either phagocytized or transported across the gut wall into the body. Ingestion of these microspheres thus constituted a localized delivery achieved by topical application of the spheres to the wall tissue of the gut. This topical application resulted in the localized trapping of a small percentage of these sphere into the Peyer's patches where the spheres proceeded to release their antigen in a localized fashion to immune cells located within the intestinal Patches.

The concept of localized sustained local delivery has been further extended to the delivery of analgesics and anesthetics to exposed dental pulp to control pain and inflammatory responses. Again, the PLGA microsphere used for this type of delivery are relatively large (40-100 um in diameter) and serve as a topical depot for localized extracellular release of the drug.

Consistent with their understanding of the inherent immunogenic properties exhibited by active core materials in vivo, applicants have moved on to other non-topical application methods of using their microsphere delivery system. Some of these center on the use of small diameter microspheres ranging from sub micron to under 5 microns in diameter. These spheres allow intracellular targeting of drug or antigen. They also allow for transmucosal delivery of drugs or antigens. The concept of localized delivery in these instances refers to the localized delivery of drug or agent within individual target cells of the body regardless of their location or distribution within the body. This approach is useful in development of antitubercular, antimalarial, antiviral, and antichlamydial formulations against intracellular parasites. It is also useful for the development of vaccines against intracellular parasites and for direct delivery of agents to presenting cells of the immune system.

Another nontopical application method of using PLGA microspheres resides in their usefulness as injectable depots for drugs intended for either localized or systemic delivery. Typically larger diameter microspheres are used for depots as these are less likely to diffuse away. The local or systemic nature of these delivery systems is, in part a function of the release rate of the drug from the depot and the diffusional and solubility characteristics of the drug being released. Cancer chemotherapeutics, systemic antibiotics, delivery of antibiotics to infected bone are potential application of this system. Additional this non-topical systemic depot application can be extended to the iv injection of cancer-agent laden microspheres to embolize and destroy a malignant tumor. Additionally, the PLGA microspheres can be used as a carrier to deliversubstances useful for the in modification of cells or genes in bioengineering or genetic procedures.

Interest in the concept that antigens encapsulated within a biodegradable-biocompatible polymeric matrix could be formulated as a vaccine with superior efficacy over conventional vaccines, originated from the inventors' own observations that the drug, ampicillin, when sustain released from poly DL(lactide-co-glycolide) elicited antibody production. In these studies, the applicants were able to measure specific IgG antibodies to free ampicillin and to ampicillin released from microencapsulated ampicillin formulations in the sera of mice previously “treated” with the ampicillin formulations using ELISA. Numerous other studies also document the ability of beta-lactam antibiotic to elicit antibody. Selected, more recent studies whose findings are consistent with earlier discoveries made by applicants when conducting experiements with ampicillin include those by Klein et al. (1993) who detected specific IgG antibodies (IgG and IgG3 subclasses) to the B-lactam ring in patients receiving penicillin therapy, work by Nagakura et al. (1990) which detected specific antibodies to cephalexin, a B-lactam antibiotic in the sera of guinea pigs, and Auci et al. (1993) who detected benzyl penicilloyl specific IgM, IgG IgE, and IgA antibody forming cells in lymphoid cells of mice given benzyl penicilloyl-Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin. Pharmaceutical compositions of antigens encapsulated with poly DL(lactide-co-glycolide) are described in Phase II. The microspheres of the invention allow for introduction of vaccine antigens to mucosal surfaces in particles that can be subsequently taken up locally by phagocytic cells. Such an approach for both drugs and antigens provides significant advantages in potency and efficacy over conventional systemically administered drugs or vaccines. A partial list of biologically active agents or drugs that will potentially derive significant medical benefits from this delivery system includes: antibacterial agents; peptides; polypeptides; antibacterial peptides; antimycobacteial agents; antimycotic agents; antiviral agents; antiparastic agents; antifungal; antiyeast agents; hormonal peptides; cardiovascular agents; hormonal peptides; cardiovascular agents; narcotic antagonists; analgesics; anesthetics; insulins; steroids including HIV therapeutic drugs (including protease inhibitors) and AZT; estrogens; progestins; gastrointestinal therapeutic agents; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents; parasympathoimetic agents; psychotherapeautic agents; tranquilizers; decongestants; sedative-hypnotics; non-estrogenic and non-progestional steroids; sympathomimetic agents; vaccines; vitamins; nutrients; anti-migraine drugs; electrolyte replacements; ergot alkaloids; anti-inflammatory agents; prostaglandins; cytotoxic drugs; antigens; antibodies; enzymes; growth factors; immunomodulators; pheromones; prodrugs; psychotropic drugs; nicotine; antiblood clotting drugs; appetite suppressants/stimulants and combinations thereof; contraceptive agents include estrogens such as diethyl silbestrol; 17-beta-estradiol; estrone; ethinyl estradiol; mestranol; progestins such as norethindrone; norgestryl; ethynodiol diacetate; lynestrenol; medroxyprogesterone acetate; dimethisterone; megestrol acetate; chlormadinone acetate; norgestimate; norethisterone; ethisterone; melentate; norgestimate; norethisterone; ethisterone; melengestrol; norethynodrel; and spermicidal compounds such as nonyphenoxypolyoxyethylene glycol; benzethonium chloride; chlorindanol; include gastrointestinal therapeutic agents such as aluminum hydroxide; calcium carbonate; magnesium carbonate; sodium carbonate and the like; non-steroidal antifertility agents; parasympathomimetic agents; psychotherapeutic agents; major tranquilizers such as chloropromaquine HCL; clozapine; mesoridazine; metiapine; reserpine; thioridazine; minor tranquilizers such as chlordiazepoxide; diazepam; meprobamate; temazepam and the like; rhinological decongestants; sedative-hypnotics such as codeine; phenobarbital; sodium pentobarbital; sodium secobarbital; other steroids such as testosterone and testosterone propionate; sulfonmides; sympathomimetic agents; vaccines; vitamins and nutrient such as the essential amino acids; essential fats; anti-HIV agents; including AZT; antimalarials such as 4-aminoquinolines; 8 aminoquinolines; pyrimethamine; anti-migraine agents such as mazindol; phentermine; anti-Parkinson agents such as L-dopa; antispasmodics such as atropine; methscopolamine bromide; antispasmodics and anticholingeric agents such as bile therapy; digestants; enzymes and the like; antitussives such as dextromethorphan and noscapine; bronchodilators; cardiovascular agents such as anti-hyperemsive compounds; Rauwolfia alkaloids; coronary vasodilators; nitroglycerin; organic nitrites; pentaerythriotetranitrate; electrolyte replacements such as potassium chloride; ergotalkaloids such as ergotamine with and without caffein; hydrogenated ergotoalkaloids; dihydroergocristine methanesulfate; dihydroergocomine methanesulfonate; dihydroergokroyptine methanesulfate and combinations thereof; alkaloids such as atropine sulfate; Belladonna; hyoscine hydrobromide; analgesics; narcotics such as codeine; dihydrocodienone; meperidine; morphine; non-narcotics such as salicylates; aspirin; acetaminophen; and d-propoxyphene; antibiotics such as the cephalosporins including ceflacor and cefuroxime; chloranphenical; gentamicin; Kanamycin A. Kanamycin B; the penicillins; ampicillin; amoxicillin; streptomycin A; antimycin A; chloropamtheniol; metromidazole; oxytetracycline penicillin G; the tetracyclines; including minocycline; fluoro-quinolones including ciprofloxacin; ofoxacin; macrolides including clarithromycin; frythromycin; aminioglycosides including gentamicin; amikacin; tobramycin and kanamycin; beta-lacams including ampacillin; polymyxin-B; amphotercin-B; aztrofonam; chloramphenicol; fusidans; lincosamides; metronidazole; nitro-furantion; imipenem/cilastin; quinolones; systemic antibodies including rifampin; polygenes; sulfunamides; trimethoprim; glycopeptides including vancomycin; teicoplanin and imidazoles; anti-cancer agents; including anti-kaposi's sarcoma; anti-convulsants such as mephenytoin; phenobarbital; trimethadione; anti-emetics such as triethylperazine; antihistamines such as chlomphinazine; dimenhydrinate; diphenhydramine; perphenazine; tripelennamine and the like; anti-inflammatory agents such as hormonal agents; hydrocortisone; prednisolone; prednisone; non-hormonal agents; allopurinol; for claims water-soluble hormone drugs; antibiotics; antitumor agents; anti infalmmatory agents; antipyretics; analgesics; antitussives; expectorants; sedatives; muscle relaxants; antiepileptics; anticulcer agents; antidepressants; antiallergic drugs; cardiotonics; antiarrhythmic drugs; vasodilators; antihypertensives; diuretics; anticoagulants; and antinarcotics; in the molecular weight range of 100-100,000 daltons; indomethacin; phenylbutazone; prostaglandins; cytotoxic drugs such as thiotepa; chloramucil; cyclophosphamide; melphala; nitrogen mustard; methotrexate; antigens such as proteins; glycoproteins; synthetic peptides; carbohydrates; synthetic polysaccharides; lipids; glycolipids; lipopolysaccharides(LPS); synthetic lipopolysaccharides and with or without attached adjuvants such as synthetic muramyl dipeptide derivatives; antigens of such microorganisms as Neisseria gonorrhea; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Picarinii Pnfumonia; Herpes virus (humonis types 1 and 2); Herpes zoster; Candidia albicans; Candida tropicalis; Trichomonas vaginalis; Haemophilus vaginalis; Group B steptoccoccus ecoli; Microplasma hominis; Hemophilus ducreyi; Granuloma inguimale; Lymphopathia venerum; Treponema palidum; Brucela aborus Brucela meitensis Brucela suis; Brucella canis Campylobacter fetus; Campylobacer fetus intesinalis; Leptospira pomona. Listeria monocytogenes; Brucella ovis; Equine herpes virus 1; Equine arterits virus; IBR-IBP virus; Chlamydia psittaci; Trichomonas foetus; Taxoplasma gondii; Escherichia coli; Actinobacillus equuli; Salmonella abortus ovis, Salmonella abortus eui; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Corynebacterium equi; Corynebacterium pyogenes; Actinobaccilus seminis; Mycoplasma bovigenitalium; Asprgilus fumigatus; Absidia ramosa; Trypanosoma equiperdum; Babesia cabali; Clostridium tetani; antibodies which counteract the above microorganisms; and enzymes such as ribonuclease; neuramidinase; trypsin; glycogen phosphorylase; sperm lactic dehydrogenase; sperm hyaluronidase; adenossinetriphosphase; alkaline phosphatase; alkaline phospha esterase; amino peptides; typsin chymotrypsin amylase; muramidase; acrosomal proteinase; diesterase; glutamic acid dehydrogense; succunic and dehydrogenase; beta-glycophosphatase lipase; ATP-ase alpha-peptate gamma-glutamyiotranspeptidase; sterold-beta-ol-dehydrogenase; DPN-di-aprorase; and combinations thereof. Having generally described the invention; a further understanding can be obtained by reference to certain specific examples which are provided herein for purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be limiting unless otherwise specified. Moreover; the polymeric matrix of this invention may be used for the in situ production and controlled release of products that are produced by the controlled release of encapsulated reactants. Additionally; effective testing or monitoring devices for chemical agents or bioactive agents can be made by encapsulating reagents which react as they are released from the polymeric matrix, with agents sought to be detected. The novel delivery system of this invention is applicable to all categories of active substances capable of being used for the prevention and/or treatment of human, animal and plant diseases. This delivery system is also applicable to the design of novel diagnostic tests. Additionally, it can be useful for the delivery to a subject of a polyfunctional mixture or cocktail formulation of encapsulated active (i.e. biologically) substances for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases the same or different. The encapsulated formulation ingredients would be comprised of multiple drugs, multiple vaccines or a combination thereof.

Applicants contemplate that the invention will be useful in the formulation of disease specific compositions for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases and/or ailments which include: viral infections; bacterial infections; fungal infections; yeast infections; parastic infections and more specific diseases and/or ailments; such as as, aids; alzheimer's dementia; angiogenesis diseases; aphthour ulcers in AIDS patients; asthma; atopic dermatitis; psoriasis; basal cell carcinoma; benign prostatic hypertrophy; blood substitute; blood substitute in surgery patients; blood substitute in trauma patients; breast cancer; breast cancer; cutaneous & metastatic; cachexia in AIDS; campylobacter infection; cancer; pneumonia; sexually transmitted diseases (STDs); cancer; viral diseases; candida albicians in AIDS and cancer; candidiasis in HIV infection; pain in cancer; pancreatic cancer, parkinson's disease; peritumoral brain edema; postoperative adhesions (prevent); proliferative diseases; prostate cancer ragweed allergy; renal disease; restenosis; rheumatoid arthritis; rheumatoid arthritis; allergies; rotavirus infection; scalp psoriasis; septic shock; small-cell lung cancer; solid tumors; stroke; thrombosis; type I diabetes; type I diabetes w/kidney transplants; type II diabetes; viseral leishmaniasis; malaria, periodontal or gum disease; cardiac rthythm disorders; central nervous system diseases; central nervous system disorders; cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis); choridal neovasculariztion; chronic hepatitis c, b and a; colitis associated with antibiotics; colorectal cancer; coronary artery thrombosis; cryptosporidiosis in AIDS; cryptosporidium parvum diarrhea in AIDS; cystic fibrosis; cytomegalovirus disease; depression; social phobias; panic disorder; diabetic complications; disabetic eye disease; diarrhea associated with antibiotics; eretile dysfunction; genital herpes; graft-vs host disease in transplant patients; growth hormone deficiency; head and neck cancer; head trauma; stroke; heparin neutralization after cardiac bypass; hepatocellular carcinoma; HIV; HIV infection; huntington's disease; CNS diseases; hypercholesterolemia; hypertension; inflammation; inflammation and angiogensis; inflammation in cardiopulmonary bypass; influenza; migrain head ache; interstitial cystitis; kaposi's sarcoma; kaposi's sarcoma in AIDS; lung cancer; melanoma; molluscum contagiosum in AIDS; multiple sclerosis; neopastic meningitis from solid tumors; non-small cell lung cancer; organ transplant rejection; osteoarthritis; rheumatoid arthritis; osteoporosis; drug addiction; shock, ovarian cancer; and pain.

Also contemplated here are those diseases or health conditions capable being benefitted by the list of biologically active agents or drugs previously listed the Summary of the Invention.

Effects of Microencapsulated Antibiotics on the Immune Response

Preclinical studies evaluating microencapsulated antibiotics in animals have demonstrated that targeted local release of antibiotics directly into infected soft tissue and bone via sustained release of the drug from poly DL(lactide-co-glycolide) will greatly enhance antibiotic efficacy for both prophylaxis and treatment. Antibiotic hypersensitivity was, from the beginning, the most obvious untoward clinical concern of this novel approach to antibiotic delivery. What effect would sustained antibiotic release have on the hypersensitive patient?

Prior to the filing of applicants' parent application Ser. No. 590,308 on Mar. 16, 1984, which disclosed the local application of encapsulated antibiotics to treat wound infection, it was commonly known that an inherent property of free antibiotics such as ampicillin, is that they elicit an immune response in man and induce the production of antibodies. Thus, interest in the immune response elicited from the sustained release of immunogens intensified in order to capture the beneficial aspects of this event immunogenic event in a manner which would advance the frontiers of medical science. This led to additional studies with sustain released antibiotics and led the inventors to postulate that antigens encapsulated in lactide/glycolide could potentially provide a more effective method of active immunization than free antigen alone. In follow on experiments, vaccine antigens were encapsulated and studies were performed to explore this hypothesis as illustrated in Phase II, herein (Phase II).

VI. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the effect of microencapsulated ampicillin (MEAA) on the immune response when mice are treated with free ampicillin, ampicillin encapsulated within biodegradable-biocompatible microspheres and placebo poly (Lactide/glycolide) microspheres, by measuring the specific IgG antibodies to free ampicillin and MEAA in sera of treated mice by ELISA.

FIG. 2 shows that guinea pigs sensitized with free or microencapsulated ampicillin developed specific IgG antibodies to ampicillin as measured by ELISA.

FIG. 3 shows the in vitro release of [¹⁴C]-ampicillin anhydrate from sterilized microcapsules/spheres (45 to 106 micrometers in diameter) into 0.1 molar potassium phosphate receiving fluid (pH 7.4) maintained at 37° C. The microcapsules consisted of about 10 weight percent ampicillin anhydrate and about 65 weight percent 53:47 DL-PLG polymer.

FIG. 4 shows the in vitro release of [¹⁴C]-ampicillin anhydrate from sterilized microcapsules (10 to 100 micrometers consisting of about 35 weight percent ampicillin and about 65 weight percent of 53:47 DL-PLG polymer.

FIG. 5 shows the mean daily excretion of [¹⁴C] from rats receiving subcutaneous injections of sterilized microencapsulated and unencapsulated [¹⁴C]-ampicillin anhydrate.

FIG. 6 illustrates that encapsulated as well as the ampicillin anhydrate showed a fast release of drug during Day 1. By Day 4, the amount of ampicillin found in the serum of animals dosed with the unencapsulated drug was below the level of detection of the assay, whereas serum levels of ampicillin were dectable in animals receiving encapsulated ampicillin for up to 11 days.

FIG. 7 shows mean serum levels of ampicillin at 1-hour following implantation of either microencapsulated ampicillin or unencapsulated ampicillin into the medullary canal of the rabbit tibia with experimental osteomyelitis.

Serum Cefazolin Levels. FIG. 8 shows the mean serum concentrations of cefazolin that were measured at 1 hour and 24 hours following local antibiotic therapy with either CZ microspheres (Group A) or free CZ powder (Group B) in the rabbit fracture-fixation model. At 1 hour, the mean serum cefazolin levels were approximately 32 times higher for the Group B animals who had received local antibiotic therapy with free CZ powder (18.7±6.1 ug/ml) as compared to the Group A animals who were treated with CZ microspheres )0.57±0.27 ug/ml). This difference in the mean serum cefazolin levels between the two groups was statistically significant (p=0.0023) by Student's t test. At 24 hours following local treatment, no cefazolin was detected in the sera of the rabbits who had received free CZ powder (Group B), however, low cefazolin concentrations were detected in the sera of Group A animals who were treated with the CZ microspheres. It is evident from the data that the free antibiotic diffuses rapidly from the wound and is absorbed into the systemic circulation, whereas, the microspheres remain localized and continue to release low but measurable levels of antibiotic for an extended time interval.

FIG. 9 shows the size destribution of microspheres wherein the particle size distibution (%) is (a) By number 1-5 (91) and 6-10 (9) and (b) By weight 1-5 (28) and 6-10 (72).

FIG. 10 shows a scanning electron micrograph of microspheres.

FIGS. 11(a) and (b) show the In vitro immunization of spleen cells and demonstrates that AF/RI pilus protein remains immunogenic to rabbit spleen cells immunized in vitro after microencapsulation. AF/RI pilus protein has been found to be immunogenic for rabbit spleen mononuclear cells in vitro producing a primary IgM antibody response specific to AF/RI. Immunization with antigen encapsulated in biodegradable, biocompatible microspheres consisting of lactide/glycolide copolymers has been shown to endow substantially enhanced immunity over immunization with the free antigen. To determine if microencapsulated AF/RI maintains the immunogenicity of the free pilus protein, a primary in vitro immunization assay was conducted. Rabbit spleen mononuclear cells at a concentration of 3×10⁵ cells/well. Triplicate wells of cells were immunized with free AF/RI in a dose range from 15 to 150 ng/ml or with equivalent doses of AF/RI contained in microspheres. Supernatants were harvested on days 7, 9, 12, and 14 of culture and were assayed for free AF/RI pilus protein specific IgM antibody by the ELISA. Supernatant control values were subtracted from those of the immunized cells. Cells immunized with free pilus protein showed a significant positive IgM response on all four days of harvest, with the antibody response increasing on day 9, decreasing on day 12, and increasing again on day 14. Cells immunized with microencapsulated pilus protein showed a comparable positive IgM antibody response as cells immunized with free pilus protein. In conclusion, AF/RI maintains immunogenicity to rabbit spleen cells immunized in vitro after microencapsulation.

FIGS. 12(a) and (b) show in vitro immunization of Peyer's patch cells. Here the AF/RI pilus protein remains immunogenic to rabbit Peyer's patch cells immunized in vitro after microencapsulation. AF/RI pilus protein has been found to be immunogenic for rabbit Peyer's patch mononuclear cells in vitro producing a primary IgM antibody response specific to AF/RI. Immunization with antigen encapsulated in biodegradable, biocompatible microspheres consisting of lactide/glycolide copolymers has been shown to endow substantially enhanced immunity over immunization with the free antigen. To determine if microencapsulated AF/RI maintains the immunogencity of the free pilus protein, a primary in vitro immunization assay was conducted. Rabbit Peyer's patch mononuclear cells at a concentration of 3×10⁶ cells/ml were cultured in 96well, round bottom microculture plates at a final concentration of 6×10⁵ cells/well. Triplicate wells of cells were immunized with free AF/RI in a dose range from 15 to 150 ng/ml or with equivalent dose of AF/RI contained in microspheres. Supernatants were harvested on days 7, 9, 12, and 14 of culture and were assayed for free AF/RI pilus protein specific IgM antibody by the ELISA. Supernatant control values were subtracted from those of the immunized cells. Cells immunized with free pilus protein showed a significant positive IgM Tense on all four days of harvest, with the highest antibody response on day 12 with the highest antigen dose. Cells immunized with encapsulated pilus protein showed a positive response on day 12 with all three antigen doses. In conclusion, AF/RI pilus protein maintains immunogenicity to rabbit Peyer's patch cells immunized in vitro after microencapsulation.

FIG. 13 shows proliferative responses to AF/RI by rabbit Peyer's patch cells. Naive rabbits were primed twice with 50 micrograms of either non-encapsulated (rabbits 132 and 133) or microencapsulated (rabbits 134 and 135) AF/RI pili by endoscopic intraduodenal inoculation seven days apart. Seven days following the second priming, Peyer's patch cells were cultured with AF/RI in 96-well plates for four days followed by a terminal six hour pulse with [³H]thymidine. Data shown is the SI calculated from the mean cpm of quadruplicate cultures. Responses were significant for all rabbits: 132 (p=0.013), 133 (p=0.0006), 134 (p=0.0016), and 135 (p=0.0026). Responses were significantly different between the two groups. Comparison of the best responder in the nonencapsulated antigen group (rabbit 133) with the lowest responder in the microencapsulated antigen group (rabbit 134) demonstrated an enhanced response when the immunizing antigen was microencapsulated (p=0.0034).

Additionally, FIG. 13 relates to the in vitro lymphocyte proliferation after sensidization of rabbit lymphoid tissues with encapsulated or non-encapsulated AF/RI pilus adhesion of E. coli strain RDEC-1. The AF/RI adherence factor is a plasmid encoded pilus protein that allows RDEC-1 to attach to rabbit intestinal brush borders. We investigated the immunopotentiating effect of encapsulating purified AF/RI into biodegradable non-reactive microspheres composed of polymerized lactide and glycolide, materials used in resorbable sutures. The microspheres had a size range of 5-10 microns, a size selected for Peyer's Patch localization, and contained 0.62% protein by weight. NZW rabbits were immunized twice with 50 micrograms of either encapsulated or non-encapsulated AF/RI by intraduodenal later of non-encapsulated AF/RI by intraduodenal inoculation seven days apart. Lymphocyte proliferation in response to purified AR/RI was conducted in vitro at seven days and showed that encapsulating the antigen into microspheres enhanced the cellular immune response in the Peyer's Patch; however, no significant increase was observed in spleen or mesenteric lymph node. These data suggest that encapsulation of AF/RI may potentiate the mucosal cellular immune response.

FIGS. 14 a-d show proliferative responses to AF/RI synthetic peptides by rabbit Peyer's patch cells. Naive rabbits were primed twice with 50 micrograms of either non-encapsulated (rabbits 132 and 133) or microencapsulated (rabbits 134 and 135) AF/RI pili by endoscopic intraduodenal inoculation seven days apart. Seven days following the second priming, Peyer's patch cells from each rabbit were cultured with AF/R1 40-55 (FIG. 14 a), AF/R1 79-94 (FIG. 14 b), AF/R1 108-123 (FIG. 14 c), or AF/R1 40-47/79-86 (FIG. 16 d) in 96-well plates for four days followed by a terminal six hour pulse with [³H]thymidine. Data shown is the SI calculated from the mean cpm of quadruplicate cultures. The responses of rabbits 132 and 133 were not significant to any of the peptides tested. Rabbit 134 had a significant response to (a) AF/R1 40-55 (p=0.0001), (b) AF/R1 79-94 (p=0.0280), and (d) AF/R1 40-57/79-86 (p=0.025), but not to (c) AF/R1 108-123. Rabbit 135 had a significant response to (a) AF/R1 40-55 (p=0.034), (b) AF/RI 79-94 (p=0.040), and (c) AF/R1 108-123 (p<0.0001), but not to (d) AF/R1 40-47/79-86. This demonstrates enhanced proliferative response to peptide antigens following mucosal priming with microencapsulated pili. AF/RI pili promotes RDEC-1 attachment to rabbit intestinal brush borders. Three 16 amino acid peptides were selected by theoretical criteria from the AF/RI sequence as probable T or B cell epitopes and were synthesized: AF/RI 40-55 as a B cell epitope, 79-94 as a T cell epitope, and 108-123 as a T and B cell epitope. We used these peptides to investigate a possible immunopotentiating effect of encapsulating purified Af/RI pili into biodegradable, biocompatible microspheres composed of polymerized lactide and glycolide at a size range that promotes localization in the Peyer's Patch (5-10 micrometers). NZW rabbits were primed twice with 50 micrograms AF/RI by endoscopic intraduadenal inoculation and their Peyer's Patch cells were cultured in vitro with the AF/RI peptides. In two rabbits which had received encapsulated AF/RI, lymphocyte proliferation was observed to AF/RI 40-55 and 79-94 in both rabbits and to 108-123 in one of two rabbits. No responses to any of the peptides were observed in rabbits which received non-encapsulated AF/RI. These data suggest that encapsulation of AF/RI may enhance the cellular response to peptide antigens.

FIGS. 15 a-d show B-cell responses of Peyer's patch cells to AF/R1 and peptides.

FIGS. 16 a-d show B-cell responses of Peyer's Patch cells to AF/R1 and peptides.

FIGS. 17 a-d show B-cell responses of spleen cells to AF/R1 and Peptides.

FIGS. 18 a-d show B cell responses of spleen cells to AF/R1 and peptides.

FIGS. 15 through 18 a illustrate enhanced lymphocyte antibody response by mucosal immunization of rabbits with microencapsulated AF/R1pilus protein. The AF/RI pilus protein has been found to be immunogenic for rabbit spleen and Peyer's patch cells in vitro producing a primary IgM antibody response. The purpose of this study was to determine if AR/R1 pilus protein immune response is enhanced by microencapsulation. The AF/R1 was incorporated into biodegradable, biocompatible microspheres composed of lactide-glycolide copolymers, had a size range of 5-10 micrometer and containing 0.62% pilus protein by weight. Initially, NZW rabbits were immunized twice with 50 micrograms of either encapsulated or non-encapsulated AF/RI via intraduodenal route seven days apart. For in vitro challenge, 6×10⁵ rabbit lymphocytes, were set in microculture at final volume of 0.2 ml. Cells were challenged with AR/RI or three different synthetic 16 amino acid peptides representing, either predicted T, B or T and B cell epitopes in a dose range of 15 to 150 ng/ml for splenic cells or 0.05 to 5.0 micrograms/ml for Peyer's patch mononuclear cells (in triplicate). Supernatants were collected on culture days 3, 5, 7, and 9 assayed by ELISA for anti-AF/R1 antibody response as compared to cell supernatant control. Significant antibody responses were seen only from spleen and Peyer's patch cells from rabbits immunized with microencapsulated AF/R1. The antibody response tended to peak between days 5 and 9 was mainly an IgM response. The results for the predicted epitopes were similar to those obtained with purified AF/RI. In conclusion, intestinal immunization with AF/RI pilus protein contained within microspheres greatly enhances both the spleen and Peyer's patch B-cell responses to predicted T & B-cell epitopes.

FIG. 19 shows proliferative responses to AF/R1 40-55 by rabbit MLN cells. Naive rabbits were primed twice with 50 micrograms of either nonencapsulated (rabbits 132 and 133) or microencapsulated (rabbits 134 and 135) AF/R1 pili by endoscopic intraduodenal inoculation seven days apart. Seven days following the second priming, MLN cells were cultured with AF/R1 40-55 for four days in 24-well plates. Cultures were transferred into 96-well plates for a terminal [³H]thymidine pulse. Data shown is the SI calculated from the mean cpm of quadruplicate cultures. Responses of rabbits 132 and 133 were not statistically significant. Responses were significant for rabbits 134 (p=0.0.0051) and 135 (p=0.0055).

FIG. 20 shows proliferative responses to AF/R1 40-55 by rabbit spleen cells. Naive rabbits were primed twice with 50 micrograms of either nonencapsulated (rabbits 132 and 133) or microencapsulated (rabbits 134 and 135) AF/R1 pili by endoscopic intraduodenal inoculation seven days apart. Seven days following the second priming, spleen cells were cultured with AF/R1 40-55 for four days in 24-well plates. Cultures were transferred into 96 well plates for a terminal [³H]thymidine pulse. Data shown is the SI calculated from the mean cpm of quadruplicate cultures. Responses of rabbits 132 and 133 were not statistically significant. Responses were significant for rabbits 134 (p=0.0.0005) and 135 (p=0.0066).

FIG. 21 shown kepm levels for spleen cells and mesenteric lymph node in response to encapsulated AF/R1.

FIG. 22 shows kepm levels for rabbit spleen cells and mesenteric lymph node in response to encapsulated AF/R1.

FIG. 23 shows stimulation index responses of rabbit to immunization with non-encapsulated AF/R1 and encapsulated AF/R1.

FIG. 24: .A. SDS_PAGE of intact CFA/I (lane 1), trypsin treated CFA/I (lane 2), and S. aureus V8 protease treated CFA/I. Molecular masses of individual bands were estimated from molecular weight standards (on left). Multiple lanes of both trypsin and V8 treated CFA/I were transferred to PVDF membranes where bands corresponding to the approximate molecular masses of 3500 (trypsin digest, see arrow lane 2) and 6000 (V8 digest, see arrow lane 3) were excised and subjected to Edman degradation. 24B. Resulting sequence of protein fragments (SEQ ID NOS 40 and 41) from each lane of A (position of sequenced portion of fragment in the intact protein. Underlined, italisized residues are amino acids under dispute in literature.

FIG. 25. ELISA assay results testing hyperimmune sera of monkeys ²⁵(A)2Z2 (monkey 3), ²⁵(B) 184(D) (monkey 1) and ²⁵ (C) 34 (monkey 2) to CPA/I primary structure immobilized on polyethylene pins. Monkey sera diluted 1:1000. Peptide number refers first amino acid in sequence of octapeptide on pin from CFA/I primary structure OD 405 refers to optical density wavelength at which ELISA plates were reat (405 nm).

FIG. 26. Complete sequence of CFA/I (SEQ ID NOS 42-44, respectively in order of appearance (147 amino acids) with B cell recognition site (boxed areas) as defined by each individual monkey response [2Z2, 184D, and 34]. Derived from data in FIG. 25.

FIGS. 27-29 Lymphocyte proliferation to synthetic decapeptides of CFA/I. Each monkey was immunized with three i.m. injections of CFA/I subunits in adjuvant, and its spleen cells were cultured with synthetic decapeptides which had been constructed using the Pepscan technique. The decapeptides represented the entire CFA/I protein. Concentrations of synthetic peptide used included 6.0, 0.6, and 0.06 micrograms/ml. Values shown represent the maximum proliferative response produced by any of the three concentrations of antigen used ± the standard deviation. The cpm of the control peptide for each of the three monkeys was 1,518±50, 931±28, and 1,553±33 respectively. The cpm of the media control for each of the three monkeys was 1,319±60, 325±13, and 1,951±245 respectively.

FIGS. 30-32 Lymphocyte proliferation to 6.0, 0.6, and 0.06 micrograms/ml synthetic decapeptides of CFA/I in one monkey. The monkey (2Z2) as immunized with three i.m. injections of CFA/I subunits in adjuvant, and its spleen cells were cultured with synthetic decapeptides which had been constructed using the Pepscan technique. The decapeptides represented the entire CFA/I protein. Values shown represent the proliferative response which occurred to 6.0 micrograms/ml (FIG. 39), 0.6 micrograms/ml (FIG. 31), or 0.06 micrograms/ml (FIG. 32) of antigen ± the standard deviation. The cpm of the control peptide was 1,553±33 and the cpm of the media control was 1,951±245.

FIG. 33 shows that rabbits numbers 21 and 22 received intraduodual administration of AF/R1 microspheres at doses of AF/R1 of 200 micrograms (ug) on day 0 and 100 ug on day 7, 14, and 21 then sacrificed on day 31. The spleen, Peyer's patch and ileal lamina propria cells at 6×10⁵ in 0.2 ml in quadriplate were challenged with AF/RI and AF/R1 1-13, 40-55, 79-94, 108-123, and 40-47, 79-85 synthetic peptides at 15, 1.5 and 0.15 ug/ml for 4 days. The supernatants were tested for IL-4 using the IL-4/IL-2 dependent cell line cells CT4R at 50,000/well with 0.1 ml of 6.25% supernatant for 3 days then pulsed with tritiated thymidine for 4 hrs, cells harvested and the tritiated thymidine incorporation determined, averaged and expressed with one standard deviation thousand counts per minute (kcpm).

FIG. 34 shows that RDEC-1 colonization (log CFU/gm) in cecal fluids was similar in both groups (mean 6.3 vs 7.3; p=0.09).

FIG. 35 shows that rabbits given AF/R1-MS remained well and 4/6 gained weight after challenge, whereas 9/9 unvaccinated rabbits lost weight after challenge (mean weight change +10 vs −270 grams p<0.001).

FIG. 36 shows that the mean score of RDEC-1 attachment to the cecal epithelium was zero in vaccinated, and 2+ in unvaccinated animals.

FIG. 37. Particle size distribution of CFA/II microsphere vaccine Lot L74F2 values are percent frequency of number or volume verses distribution. Particle size (diameter) in microns. 63% by volume are between 5-10 um and 88% by volume are less then 10 um.

FIG. 38. Scanning electron photomicrograph of CFA/II microsphere vaccine Lot L7472 standard bar represents 5 um distance.

FIG. 39. Twenty-two hour CFAI/II release study of CFA/II microsphere vaccine Lot L7472. Percent cumulative release of CFA/II from three sample: A, 33.12 mgm; B, 29.50 mgm: , 24.20 mgm at 1, 3, 6, 8, 12 and 22 hour intervals. Average represents the mean ± ISD.

FIG. 40. Serum IgG antibody response to CFA/II microsphere vaccine Lot L7472 following 2 25 ug protein IM immunization on day 0 in 2 rabbits. Antibody determines on serial dilution of sera by ELISA and expressed as mean titer versus day 0, 7 and 14.

FIG. 41. Serum IgG antibody response to CFA/II microsphere vaccine Lot L7F2 following 2 25 ug protein IM immunizations on day 0 if rabbit 107 & 109. Antibody determined on serial dilution (in duplicate) of sera by ELISA and expressed as mean titer versus day 0, 7 and 14.

FIG. 42. Lymphocyte proliferative responses for Peyer's patch cells of rabbits 65 (FIG. 42(a)), 66 (FIG. 42(b)), 83 (FIG. 42(c)), 86 (FIG. 42 (d)), and 87 (FIG. 42(e)) immunized intraduodenally with 50 mgm protein of CFA/II microsphere vaccine 4 and 7 days earlier. The cells are challenged in vitro with CFA/II or BSA at 500, 50 and 5 ug/ml or media in triplicate. The uptake of tritiated thymidine in Kcp is expressed as mean ± ISD. Using the paired student t-test, the p values of 500 ug/ml dose of CFA/II compared to media control are: 65,p=0.0002; 66,p 0.0002; 83,p=0.0002; and 86, p=0.0002.

FIG. 43. Lymphocyte proliferative reponses from Peyer's patch cells of rabbits 77 (FIG. 43(a)), 78 (FIG. 43(b)), 80 (FIG. 43(c)), 88 (FIG. 43(d)), and 91 (FIG. 43(e)) immunized introduodenally with 50 mgm protein of CFA/II microspheres vaccine 14 and 7 days earlier. The cells are challenged in vitro with CFA with CFA/II or BSA at 500, 50 and 5 ug/ml or media in triplicate the uptake of triciplate. The uptake of tritiated thymidine in Kcp is expressed as mean ± ISD. Using the paired student t-test, the protein of 500 ug/m dose of CFA/II compared to media control are: 77, p=0.0001; 78; =0.0015; 80, p=insignificant; 88, p=0.0093; and 91 p=0.0001.

FIG. 44. ELISPOT assay of spleen cells from rabbits 65 (FIG. 44(a)), 66 (FIG. 44(b)), 83 (FIG. 44(c)), 86 (FIG. 44(d)), and 87 (FIG. 44(e)) immunized intraduodenally with 50 mgm protein of CFA/II microsphere vaccine 14 and 7 days earlier. These were cells placed into microculture and tested on day 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 by ELISPOT for cells secreting antibodies specific for CFA/II antigen. The results are expressed as number per 9×10⁶ spleen cells versus culture day tested.

FIG. 45. ELISPOT assay of spleen cells from normal control rabbits, 67, 69, 72 and 89. The cells were placed into microculture and tested on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 by ELISPOT for cells secreting antibodies specific for CFA/II antigen. The results are expressed as number per 9×10⁶ spleen cells versus culture day tested.

FIG. 46. Curve for determining vaccination dosages for regimen b.

FIG. 47. Hepatitis B surface antigen release from 50:50 poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide).

FIGS. 19 and 20 serve to illustrate that inclusion of Escherichia coli pilus antigen in microspheres enhances cellular immunogenicity.

FIG. 48 shows a comparison of drug release from a conventional system versus a controlled release system. Peak and valley levels from conventional administrations are shown, in contrast to the steady therapeutic levels from the controlled release administration.

FIG. 49 shows a scanning electron micrograph of PLGA microspheres prepared by the process described in the invention using 50/50 uncapped polymer of Mw 8-12k dalton and shows superior sphere morphology, sphere integrity, and narrow size distribution.

FIG. 49 a shows a scanning electron micrograph of PLGA microspheres prepared by conventional solvent evaporation method using a 50/50 uncapped polymer of Mw 8-12k dalton.

FIG. 50 shows cumulative Histatin release from PLGA microspheres, wherein release profiles from several batches are prepared using 50/50, uncapped polymer (of Mw 6-12k dalton) and wherein the process parameters are varied to modulate release between 1 and 100 days.

FIG. 51 shows a scanning electron micrograph of solid, smooth spherical surfaces of PLGA microspheres prepared by the method of in the invention using 50/50, end-capped polymer (of Mw 30-40k dalton).

FIG. 52 shows cumulative Histatin release from PLGA microspheres, wherein the release profiles are from several batches prepared using 50/50, uncapped and end-capped polymer of Mw 30-40k daltons, and wherein the process parameters are varied to modulate release between 28 to 60 days.

FIG. 53 shows cumulative Histatin release from PLGA microspheres, wherein combined release profiles from several batches have been prepared using 50/50, uncapped and end-capped polymer of Mw 8-40k daltons, while varying the process parameters to modulate release between 1 and 60 days.

FIG. 54 shows a cumulative percent release of LHRH from PLGA microspheres prepared using uncapped polymer of Mw 8-12 daltons.

VII. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the encapsulation active core materials, especially those which are medically beneficial to the mammalian animal kingdom, such as biologically active agent(s), drug(s), or substance(s) within a biodegradable-biocompatible polymeric matrix.

More precisely, applicants have discovered a medicinally beneficial composition and process with the following itemized features:

1. A composition for the burst-free, sustained, programmable release of active material(s) over a period from 1-100 days, which comprises: (1) An active material and (2) A carrier which may contain pharmaceutically-acceptable adjuvant, comprised of a blend of uncapped and endapped biodegradable-biocompatible copolymer.

2. The composition of Item 1 wherein the polymeric substance is poly(lactide/glycolide).

3. The composition of Item 2, wherein the poly(lactide/glycolide) is a blend of uncapped and end-capped forms, in ratios ranging from 100/0 to 1/99.

4. The composition of Item 3 wherein the copolymer (lactide to glycolide L/G) ratio for uncapped and end-capped polymer is 90/10 to 40/60.

5. The composition of Item 4 wherein the copolymer (lactide to glycolide L/G) ratio for uncapped and end-capped polymer is 48/52 to 52/48.

6. The composition of Item 2 wherein the molecular weight of the copolymer is between 2,000-60,000 daltons.

7. The composition of Item 3 wherein the active material is biologically active agent.

8. The composition of Item 7 wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting essentially of antibacterial agents; peptides; polypeptides; antibacterial peptides; antimycobacterial agents; antimycotic agents; antiviral agents; hormornal peptides; cardiovascular agents; narcotic agonists; analgesics; anesthetics; insulins; steroids including HIV therapeutic drugs (including protease inhibitors) and AZT; estrogens; progestins; gastrointestinal therapeutic agents; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents; parasympathoimetic agents; psychotherapeutic agents; tranquilizers; decongestants; sedative-hypnotics; non strogenic and non-progestional steroids; sympathomimetic agents; vaccines; vitamins; nutrients; anti-migraine drugs; electrolyte replacements; ergot alkaloids; anti-inflammatory agents; prostaglandins; cytotoxic drugs; antigens; antibodies; enzymes; growth factors; immunomodulators; pheromones; prodrugs; psychotropic drugs; nicotine; antiblood clotting drugs; appetite suppressants/stimulants and combinations thereof; contraceptive agents include estrogens such as diethyl silbestrol; 17-beta-estradiol; estrone; ethinyl estradiol; mestranol; progestins such as norethindrone; norgestryl; ethynodiol diacetate; lynestrenol; medroxyprogesterone acetate; dimethisterone; megestrol acetate; chlormadinone acetate; norgestimate; norethisterone; ethisterone; melentate; norgestimate; norethisterone; ethisterone; melengestrol; norethynodrel; and spermicidal compounds such as nonyphenoxypolyoxyethylene glycol; benzethonium chloride; chlorindanol; include gastrointestinal therapeutic agents such as aluminum hydroxide; calcium carbonate; magnesium carbonate; sodium carbonate and the like; non-steroidal antifertility agents; parasympathomimetic agents; psychotherapeutic agents; major tranquilizers such as chloropromaquine HCL; clozapine; mesoridazine; metiapine; reserpine; thioridazine; minor tranquilizers such as chlordiazepoxide; diazpam; meprobamate; temazepam and the like; rhinological decongestants; sedative-hypnotics such as codeine; phenobarbital; sodium pentobarbital; sodium secobarbital; other steroids such as testosterone and testosterone and testosterone propionate; sulfonmides; sympathomimetic agents; vaccines; vitamins and nutrient such as the essential amino acids; essential fats anti-HIV agents; including AZT; antimalarials such as 4-aminoquinolines; 8 aminoquinolines; pyrimethamine; anti-migraine agents such as mazindol; phentermine; anti-Parkinson agents such as L-dopa; antispasmodics such as atropine; methscopolamine bromide; antispasmodics and anticholingeric agents such as bile therapy; digestants; enzymes and the like; antitussives such as dextromethorphan and noscapine; bronchodilators; cardiovascular agents such as anti-hypertensive compounds; Rauwolfia akaloids; coronary vasodilators; nitroglycerin; organic nitrites; penotaertitrate; electrolyte replacements such as potassium chloride; ergotalkaloids such as ergotamine with and without caffein; hydrogenated ergot alkaloids; dihydroergocristine methanesulfate; dihydroergocornine methanesulfonate; dihydroergokroyptine methaneusulfate and combinations thereof; alkaloids such as atropine sulfate; Belladonna; hyoscine hydrobromide; analgesics; narcotics such as codeine; dihydrocodienone; meperidine; morphine; non-narcotics such as salicylates; aspirin; acetaminophen; and d-propoxyphene; antibiotics such as the cephalosporins including ceflacor and cefuroxime; chloranphenical; gentamicin; Kanamycin A. Kanamycin B; the penicillins; ampicillin; amoxicillin; streptomycin A; antimycin A; chloropamtheniol; metromidazole; oxytetracycline penicillin G; the tetracyclines; including minocycline; fluoro-quinolones including ciprofloxacin; ofoxacin; macrolides including clarithromycin; fryhromycin; aminioglycosides including gentamicin; amikacin; tobramycin and kmanmycin; beta-lactams including ampacillin; polymyxin-B; amphotercin-B; aztrofonam; chloramphenicol; fusidans; lincosamides; metronidazole; nitro-furantion; imipenem/cilastin; quinolones; systemic antibodies including rifampin; polygenes; sulfunamides; trimethoprim; glycopeptides including vancomycin; teicoplanin and imidazoles; anti-cancer agents; including anti-kaposi's sarcoma; anti-convulsants such as mephenytoin phenobarbital; trimethadione; anti-emetics such as triethyperazine antihistamines such as chlorophinazine; dimenhydrinate; diphenhydramine; perphenazine; tripelennamine and the like; anti-inflammatory agents such as hormonal agents; hydrocortisone; prednisolone; prednisone; non-hormonal agents; allopurinol; for claims water-soluble hormone drugs; antibiotics; antitumor agents; anti inflammatory agents; antipyretics; analgesics; antitussives; expectorants; sedatives; muscle relaxants; antiepileptics; anticulcer agents; antidepressants; antiallergic drugs; cardiotonics; antiarrhythmic drugs; vasodilators; antihypersives; diuretics; anticoagulants; and antinarcotics; in the molecular weight range of 100-100;000 daltons; indomethacin; phenylbutazone; prostaglandins; cytotoxic drugs such as thiotepa; chloramucil; cyclophosphamide; melphala; nitrogen mustard; methotrexate; antigens such as proteins; glycoproteins; synthetic peptides; carbohydrates; synthetic polysaccharides; lipids; glycolipids; lipopolysaccharides(LPS); synthetic lipopolysaccharides and with or without attached adjuvants such as synthetic muramyl dipeptide derivatives; antigens of such microorganisms as Neisseria gonorrhea; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Picarinii Pnfumonia; Herpes virus (humonis types 1 and 2); Herpes zoster; Candidia albicans; Candida tropicalis; Trichomonas vaginalis; Haemophilus vaginalis; Group B streptoccous ecoli; Microplasma hominis; Hemophilus ducreyi; Granuloma inguimale; Lymphopathia venerum; Treponema palidum; Brucela aborus Brucela meitensis Brucela suis; Brucella canis Campylobacter fetus; Campylobacer fetus intesinalis; Leptospira pomona; Listeria monocytogenes; Brucella ovis; Equine herpes virus 1; Equine arteritis virus; IBR-IBP virus; Chlamydia psittaci; Trichomonas foetus; Taxoplasma gondii; Escherichia coli; Actinobacillus equili; Salmonella abortus ovis. Salmonella abortus eui; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Corynebacterium equi; Corynebacterium pyogenes; Actinobaccilus seminis; Mycoplasma bovigenitalium; Aspergilus fumigatus, Absidia ramosa; Trypanosoma equiperdum; Babesia cabali; Clostridium tetani; antibodies which counteract the above microorganisms; and enzymes including ribonuclease; neuramidinase; trypsin; glycogen phosphorylase; sperm lactic dehydrogenase; sperm hyaluronidase; adenossinetriphosphase; alkaline phosphatase; alkaline phospha esterase; amino peptides; typsin chymotrypsin amylase; muramidase; acrosomal proteinase; diesterase; glutamic acid dehydrogense; succunic and dehydrogenase; beta-glycophosphatase lipase; ATP-ase alpha-peptate gamma-glutamyiotranspeptidase; sterold-beta-ol-dehydrogenase; DPN-di-aprorase; and combinations thereof.

9. The composition of Item 8 wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting essentially of antibacterial agents; antibacterial peptides; antimycobacterial agents; antimycotic agents; antiviral agents; antiparasitic agents; antifungal; hormonal peptides; cardiovascular agents; narcotic antagonist; analgesics; anesthetics; vaccines; insulins; HIV therapeutic drugs (protease inhibitors); estrogens; progestins; gastrointestinal therapeutic agents; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents; parasympathoimetic agents; psychotherapeutic agents; tranquilizers; decongestants; sedative-hypnotics; non-estrogenic and non-progestional steroids; sympathomimetic agents; vaccines; vitamins; nutrients; anti-malarial compounds; anti-migraine drugs; electrolyte replacements; ergot alkaloids; analgetics; non-narcotics; anti-cancer agents; anticonvulsants; anti-emetics; antihistamines; anti-inflammatory agents; prostaglandins; cytotoxic drugs; antigens; antibodies; enzymes; growth factors; immunomodulators; pheromones; prodrugs; psychotropic drugs; appetite suppressants/stimulants; and combinations thereof.

10. The composition of Item 8 wherein the agent is a peptide or polypeptide.

11. The composition of Item 10 wherein the agent is a poly peptide.

12. The composition of Item 11 wherein the molecular weight of the polypeptide is between 12,000-25,000 daltons.

13. The composition of Item 12 wherein the polypeptide is histatin consisting of 12 amino acids and having a molecular weight of 1563.

14. The composition of Item 1 characterized by the capacity to completely release histatin in an aqueous physiological environment within from 1 to 40 days with a 100/0 blend of uncapped and end-capped poly(lactide/glycolide) having a L/G ratio of 48/52 to 52/48, and a molecular weight less than 15,000.

15. The composition of Item 14 wherein the histatin can be completely released within 18 to 40 days and the molecular weight of the poly(lactide/glycolide) is within the range of 28,000 to 40,000.

16. The composition of Item 2 characterized by the capacity to release up to 90% of the histatin in an aqueous physiological environment from 28-70 days with a 1/99 blend of uncapped and end-capped poly(lactide/glycolide) having a L/G ratio of 48/52 to 52/48 and a molecular weight range of 10,000-40,000 daltons.

17. The composition of Item 2 characterized by the capacity to release up to 80% of histatin in an aqueous physiological environment from 56-100 days with a 1/99 blend of uncapped and endapped poly(lactide/glycolide) having a L/G ratio of 75/25 and a molecular weight of less than 15,000 daltons.

18. The composition of Item 13 having analogs of histatin with chain lengths of from 11-24 amino acids of molecular weights from 1,500-3,000 daltons and characterized by the following structures:

-   -   1. DSHAKRHHGYKRKFHEKHHSHRGY (SEQ ID NO: 1)     -   2. KRHHGYKRKFHEKHHSHRGYR (SEQ ID NO: 2)     -   3. KRHHGYKRKF HEKHHSHR (SEQ ID NO: 3)     -   4. RKFHEKHHSHRGYR (SEQ ID NO: 4)     -   5. AKRHHGYKRKFH (SEQ ID NO: 5)     -   6. AKRHHGYKRKFH     -   7. KRHHGYKRKF (SEQ ID NO: 6)         -   *D-amino acid             19. The composition of Item 10 wherein the biologically             active agent is a polypeptide Leutinizing hormone releasing             hormone (LHRH) that is a decapeptide of molecular weight             1182 in its acetate form, and having the structure:     -   p-EHWSYGLRPG (SEQ ID NO: 7)         20. The composition of Item 13 having a molecular weight of from         1,000 to 250,000 daltons.         21. The composition of Item 2 wherein release profiles of         variable rates and durations are achieved by blending uncapped         and capped microspheres as a cocktail in variable amounts.         22. The composition of Item 2 wherein release of profiles of         variable rates and duration are achieved by blending uncapped         and capped polymer in different ratios within the same         microspheres.         23. The composition of Item 12 wherein the entrapped polypeptide         is any of the vaccine agents against enterotoxigenic E. coli         (ETEC) selected from the group consisting of         CFA/I,CFA/II,CS1,CS3,CS6 and CS17, ETEC-related enterotoxins,         and combinations thereof.         24. The composition of Item 23 wherein the entrapped polypeptide         consists of peptide antigens of molecular weight range of about         800-5000 daltons for immunization against enterotoxigenic E.         coli (ETEC).         25. The composition of Item 24 wherein the entrapped polypeptide         is selected from the group consisting essentially of an         antigenic synthetic peptide containing CFA/I pilus protein         T-cell epitopes; B-cell epitopes, or mixtures thereof.         26. The composition of Item 24 wherein the         poly(lactide/glycolide) is a; blend of uncapped and end-capped         forms, in ratios ranging from 48/52 to 52/48.         27. The composition of Item 7 wherein said agent are selected         from the group consisting of water-soluble hormone drugs,         antibiotics, antitumor agents, anti inflammatory agents,         antipyretics, analgesics antitussives, expectorants, sedatives,         muscle relaxants, antiepileptics, antiulcer agents,         antidepressents, antiallergic drugs, cardiotonics,         antiarrhythmic drugs, vasodilators, antihyperves, diuretics,         anticoagulants, antinarcotics, in the molecular weight range of         100-100,000 daltons.         28. The composition of Item 1 wherein said biodegradable         poly(lactide/glycolide) is in an oil phase, and is present in         about 1-50% (w/w).         29. The composition of Item 28 wherein concentration of the         active agent is in the range of 0.1 to about 60% (w/w).         30. The composition of Item 29 wherein a ratio of the inner         aqueous to oil phases is about 1/4 to 1/40(v/v).         31. The composition of Item 11 wherein the entrapped polypeptide         is active at a low pH, such as LHRH, adrenocorticotropic         hormone, epidermal growth factor, calcitonin released         polypeptide is bioactive.         32. The composition of Item 11 when entrapped polypeptide such         as histatin is inactive at a low pH, a pH-stabilizing agent of         inorganic salts are added to the inner aqueous phase to maintain         biological activity of the released peptide.         33. The composition of Item 11 wherein when entrapped         polypeptide such as histatin is inactive at a low pH, a         non-ionic surfactant such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid         esters (Tween 80, Tween 60 and Tween 20) and         polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymers (Pluronics) is         added to the inner aqueous phase to maintain biological activity         of the released polypeptide.         34. The composition of Item 32 wherein placebo spheres loaded         with the pH-stabalizing agents are coadministered with         polypeptide-loaded spheres to maintain the solution pH around         the microcapsules and preserve the biological activity of the         released peptide in instances where the addition of         pH-stablizing agents in the inner aqueous phase is undesirable         for the successful encapsulation of the acid pH sensitive         polypeptide.         35. The composition of Item 33 wherein placebo spheres loaded         with non-ionic surfactant are coadministered with         polypeptide-loaded spheres to maintain biological activity of         the released peptide where the addition of non-ionic surfactants         in the inner aqueous phase is undesirable for successful         encapsulation of the acid pH sensitive polypeptide.         36. The composition of Item 1 comprising a blend of uncapped and         capped polymer, wherein complete solubilization of the copolymer         leaves no residual polymer at the site of administration and         occurs concurrently with the complete release of the entrapped         agent.         37. A process of using composition of Item 1 for human         administration via parenteral routes, such as intramuscular and         subcutaneous.         38. A process of using the composition of Item 1 for human         administration via topical route.         39. A process of using the composition of Item 1 for human         administration via oral routes.         40. A process of using the composition of Item 1 for human         administration via nasal, transdermal, rectal, and vaginal         routes.         41. A process of using the composition of Item 1 for human         administration in the form of an oral or nasal inhalant for the         respiratory tract.         42. A process for preparing controlled release compositions         characterize by burst-free, sustained, programmable release of         biologically active agents, comprising: Dissolving biodegradable         poly(lactide/glycolide), in uncapped form in methylene chloride,         and dissolving a biologically active agent or active core in         water; adding the aqueous layer to the polymer solution and         emulsifying to provide an inner water-in-oil (w/o)emulsion;         stabilizing the w/o emulsion in a solvent-saturated aqueous         phase containing oil-in-water (o/w) emulsifier; adding said w/o         emulsion to an external aqueous layer containing oil-in-water         emulsifier to form a ternary emulsion; and stirring the         resulting water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) emulsion for sufficient         time to remove said solvent, and rinsing hardened microcapsules         with water and lyophilizing said hardened microcapsules.         43. The process of Item 42 wherein a solvent-saturated external         aqueous phase is added to emulsify the inner w/o emulsion prior         to addition of the external aqueous layer, to provide         microcapsules of narrow size distribution range between 0.05-500         um.         44. The process of Item 42 wherein a low temperature of about         0-4 degree C. is provided during preparation of the inner w/o         emulsion, and a low temperature of about 4-20 degree C. is         provided during preparation of the w/o/w emulsion to provide a         stable emulsion and high encapsulation efficiency.         45. A process for preparing controlled release compositions         characterized by burst-free, sustained compositions         characterized by burst-free, sustained, programmable release of         biologically active agents, comprising:     -   dissolving biodegradable poly(lactide/glycolide) in end-capped         form in methylene chloride, and dissolving a biologically active         agent or active core in water; adding the aqueous layer to the         polymer solution and emulsifying to provide an inner         water-in-oil emulsion; stabilizing the w/o emulsion in a         solvent-saturated aqueous phase containing a oil-in-water (o/w)         emulsifier; adding said w/o emulsion to an external aqueous         layer containing oil-in-water emulsifier to form a ternary         emulsion; and stirring a resulting water-in-oil-water (w/o/w)         emulsion for sufficient time to remove said solvent; and rinsing         heardened microcapsules with water; end lyophilizing said         hardened microcapsules.         46. The process of Item 42 wherein a 100/0 blend of uncapped and         end-capped polymer is used to provide release of the active core         in a continuous and sustained manner without a lag phase.         47. The process of Item 45 wherein a solvent-saturated external         aqueous phase is added to emulsify the inner w/o emulsion prior         to addition of the external aqueous layer, to provide         microcapsules of narrow size distribution range between 0.05‥500         um.         48. The process of Item 45 wherein a low temperature of about         0-4 degree C. is provided during preparation of the inner w/o         emulsion, and a low temperature of about 4-20 degree C. is         provided during preparation of the w/o/w emulsion to provide a         stable emulsion and high encapsulation efficiency.         49. A method for the protection against infection of a mammal by         pathogenic organisms comprising administering orally to said         mammal an immunogenic amount of an immunostimulating composition         consisting essentially of an antigenic synthetic peptide         encapsulated within a poly(lactide/galactide) matrix.         50. The method of Item 49 wherein the poly(lactide/glycolide) is         a blend of uncapped and end-capped forms, in ratios ranging from         100/0 to 1/99.         51. The method of Item 49 wherein the poly(lactide/glycolide) is         a blend of uncapped and end-capped forms in ratios ranging from         90/10 to 40/60.         52. The method of Item 49 wherein the infection is a bacterial         infection.         53. The method of Item 49 where the synthetic peptide contains         an epitope selected from the group consisting of CPA/I pilus         protein T-cell epitopes, B-cell epitopes or mixtures thereof.         54. The method of Item 49 wherein the infection is a viral         infection.         55. The method of Item 49 wherein the infection is parasitic         infection.         56. The method of Item 49 wherein the infection is a fungal         infection.         57. The method of Item 52 wherein the bacterial infection is         caused by a bacteria selected from the group consisting         essentially of Salmonella typhi, Shigella Sonnei, Shigella         Flexneri, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella boydii, Escheria coli,         Vibrio chlora, Group D-2, Group E, Group G, Group I, Group 1,         Listeria, Erysipelothrix, Mycobacterium, Aerobic pathogenic         Actinomycetales, Enterobacteriaceae, Vibrio, acromonas,         Plesiomonas, Helicobacter, W. succinogenes, Acineto bacter spp.,         Foavobacterium, Pseudomonas, Legionella, Brucella, Haemophilus,         Bordetalla, Myccoplasmas, Gardnerella, Streptobacillus,         Spirillum, Calymmatobacterium, Clostridium, Treponema, Borrelia,         Leptospira, Anaerobic Gram-negative Bacteria including bacilli         and Cocci, Anaerobic gram-Positive Nonsporeforming Bacilli and         Cocci, yersinia, staphylococcus, clostridium, Enteroccus,         Streptoccus, Aerococcus, Planococcus, Stomatococcus,         Micrococcus, Lactoccus, Germella, Pediococcus, Leuconostoc,         Bacillus, Neisseria, Branhamella, Coryne bacterium,         campylobacter, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, Rhodococcus spp.         Rhodococcus, Group A-4.         58. The method in accordance with Item 49 comprising         administering orally to said mammal an immunogenic amount of a         pharmaceutical composition consisting essentially of an         antigenic synthetic peptide in the amount of 0.1 to 1%.         59. A vaccine for the immunization of a mammal against infection         caused by pathogenic organisms prepared from the composition of         Item 1.         60. The vaccine according to Item 59 wherein the polymeric         substance is poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide).         61. The vaccine according to Item 60 wherein the relative ratio         between the lactide and glycolide (L/G) component is within the         range of 40/60 to 0/100.         62. The vaccine according to Item 61 wherein the relative ratio         between the amount of lactide and glycolide component is within         the range of 90/10 to 40/60.         63. A vaccine according to Item 62 wherein the pathogenic         organisms are bacterial.         64. A vaccine according to Item 62 wherein the pathogenic         organisms are viral.         65. A vaccine according to Item 62 wherein the pathogenic         organisms are fungal.         66. A vaccine according to Item 62 wherein the pathogenic         organisms are parasitic.         67. The vaccine according to Item 63 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is selected from the group consisting         essentially of Synthetic Peptides Containing CFA/I Pilus Protein         T-cell Epitopes (Starting Sequence # given)     -   4(Asn-Ile-Thr-Val-Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro) (SEQ ID NO: 8),     -   8(Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu) (SEQ ID NO: 9),     -   12(Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ ID NO: 10),     -   15(Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp-Gly-Asn-Ala) (SEQ ID NO: 11),     -   20(Ala-Asp-Gly-Asn-Ala-Leu-Pro-Ser-Ala-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 12),     -   26(Pro-Ser-Ala-Val-Lys-Leu-Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pro) (SEQ ID NO: 13),     -   72(Leu-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Gln-Met-Pro-Ile-Ser) (SEQ ID NO: 14),     -   78(Met-Pro-Ile-Ser-Val-Ser-Trp-Gly-Gly-Gln) (SEQ ID NO: 15),     -   87(Gln-Val-Leu-Ser-Thr-Thr-Ala-Lys-Glu-Phe) (SEQ ID NO: 16),     -   126(Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr) (SEQ ID NO: 17) and     -   133(Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser-Gly-Val-Val-Ser-Leu-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 18) and         mixtures thereof;         Synthetic Peptides Containing CFA/I Pilus Protein B-cell         (antibody) Eptiopes (Starting Sequence # given)     -   3(Lys-Asa-Ile-Thr-Val-Thr-Ala-Ser-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 19),     -   11(Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ ID NO: 20),     -   32(Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pyr-Ala-Ser-Lys-Thr-Phe-Lys-Thr-Phe-Glu-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Val)         (SEQ ID NO: 21),     -   32(Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pro-Ala-Ser-Lys-Thr-Phe) (SEQ ID NO: 22),     -   38(Lys-Thr-Phe-Glu-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 23),     -   66(Pro-Gln-Leu-Thr-Asp-Val-Leu-Asn-Ser) (SEQ ED NO: 24),     -   93(Ala-Lys-Glu-Phe-Glu-Ala-Ala-Ala) (SEQ ID NO: 25),     -   124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr) (SEQ ID NO: 26),     -   127(Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID NO: 27),         and     -   124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID         NO: 28) and mixtures thereof; and         Synthetic Peptides Containing CFA/I Pilus Protien T-cell and         B-cell (antibody) Epitopes (Starting Sequence # given)     -   3(Lys-Asn-Ile-Thr-Val-Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro) (SEQ ID NO: 29),     -   8(Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ         ID NO: 30),     -   11(Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ ID NO: 20),     -   20(Ala-Asp-Gly-Asn-Ala-Leu-Pro-Ser-Ala-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 12),     -   124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID         NO: 28), and     -   126(Ala-Gy-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID NO: 31),         and mixtures thereof.         68. The vaccine according to Item 67 wherein the bacteria is         selected from the group consisting essentially of Salmonella         typhi, Shigella Sonnei, Shigella Flexneri, Shigella dysenteriae,         Shigella boydii, Escheria coli, Vibrio cholera, Group D-2, Group         E, Group G, Group I, Group 1, Listeria, Erysipelothrix,         Mycobacterium, Aerobic pathogenic Actinomycetales,         Enterobacteriaceae, Vibrio, aeromonas, Plesiomonas,         Helicobacter, W. succinogenes, Acineto bacter spp.,         Foavobacterium, Pseudomonas, Legionella, Brucella, Heamophillus,         bordetalla, Mycoplasmas, Gardnerellus, Streotobacillus,         Spirillum, Calymmatobacterium, Clostridium, Treponema, Borrelia,         Leptospira, Anaerobic Gram-negative Bacteria including bacilli         and M.D. yersinia, staphylococcus, clostridium, Enteroccus,         Streptoccus, Aerococcus, Planococcus, Stomatococcus,         Micrococcus, Lactoccus, Germella, Pediococcus, Leuconostoc,         Bacillus, Neisseria, Branhamella, Coryne bacterium,         campylobacter, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, Rhodococcus, ssp.,         Rhodococcus, Group A-4.         69. The vaccine according to Item 67 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is selected from the group consisting         essentially of     -   4(Asn-Ile-Thr-Val-Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro) (SEQ ID NO: 8),     -   8(Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu) (SEQ ID NO: 9),     -   12(Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ ID NO: 10),     -   15(Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp-Gly-Asn-Ala) (SEQ ID NO: 11),     -   20(Ala-Asp-Gly-Asn-Ala-Leu-Pro-Ser-Ala-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 12),     -   26(Pro-Ser-Ala-Val-Lys-Leu-Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pro) (SEQ ID NO: 13),     -   72(Leu-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Gln-Met-Pro-Ile-Ser) (SEQ ID NO: 14),     -   78(Met-Pro-Ile-Ser-Val-Ser-Trp-Gly-Gly-Gln) (SEQ ID NO: 15),     -   87(Gln-Val-Leu-Ser-Thr-Thr-Ala-Lys-Glu-Phe) (SEQ ID NO: 16),     -   126(Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr) (SEQ ID NO: 17),         and     -   133(Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser-Gly-Val-Val-Ser-Leu-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 18),         and mixtures thereof.         70. The vaccine according to Item 69 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is 4(Asn-Ile-Thr-Val-Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro)         (SEQ ID NO: 8).         71. The vaccine according to Item 69 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is 8(Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu)         (SEQ ID NO: 9).         72. The vaccine according to Item 69 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is 12(Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp)         (SEQ ID NO: 10).         73. The vaccine according to Item 69 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is 15(Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp-Gly-Asn-Ala)         (SEQ ID NO: 11).         74. The vaccine according to Item 69 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is 20(Ala-Asp-Gly-Asn-Ala-Leu-Pro-Ser-Ala-Val)         (SEQ ID NO: 12).         75. The vaccine according to Item 69 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is 26(Pro-Ser-Ala-Val-Lys-Leu-Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pro)         (SEQ ID NO: 13).         76. The vaccine according to Item 69 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is 72(Leu-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Gln-Met-Pro-Ile-Ser)         (SEQ ID NO: 14).         77. The vaccine according to Item 69 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is 78(Met-Pro-Ile-Ser-Val-Ser-Trp-Gly-Gly-Gln)         (SEQ ID NO: 15).         78. The vaccine according to Item 69 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is 87(Gln-Val-Leu-Ser-Thr-Thr-Ala-Lys-Glu-Phe)         (SEQ ID NO: 16).         79. The vaccine according to Item 69 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is         126(Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr) (SEQ ID NO: 17).         80. The vaccine according to Item 69 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is         133(Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser-Gly-Val-Val-Ser-Leu-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 18).         81. The vaccine according to Item 67 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is selected from the group consisting         essentially of     -   3(Lys-Asn-Ile-Thr-Val-Thr-Ala-Ser-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 19),     -   11(Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ ID NO: 20),     -   22(Gly-Asn-Ala-Leu-Pro-Ser-Ala-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 32),     -   32(Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pro-Ala-Ser-Lys-Thr-Phe-Lys-Thr-Phe-Glu-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Val)         (SEQ ID NO: 21),     -   32(Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pro-Ala-Ser-Lys-Thr-Phe) (SEQ ID NO: 22),     -   38(Lys-Thr-Phe-Glu-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 23),     -   66(Pro-Gln-Leu-Thr-Asp-Val-Leu-Asn-Ser) (SEQ ID NO: 24),     -   93(Ala-Lys-Glu-Phe-Glu-Ala-Ala-Ala) (SEQ ID NO: 25),     -   124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr) (SEQ ID NO: 26),     -   127(Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID NO: 27),         and     -   124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID         NO: 28), and mixtures thereof.         82. The vaccine according to Item 81 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is 3(Lys-Asn-Thr-Val-Thr-Ala-Ser-Val) (SEQ ID         NO: 19).         83. The vaccine according to Item 81 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is         11(Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ ID NO: 20).         84. The vaccine according to Item 81 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is 22(Gly-Asn-Ala-Leu-Pro-Ser-Ala-Val) (SEQ ID         NO: 32).         85. The vaccine according to Item 81 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is         32(Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pro-Ala-Lys-Thr-Phe-Lys-Thr-Phe-Glu-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Val)         (SEQ ID NO: 21).         86. The vaccine according to Item 81 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is 32(Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pro-Ala-Ser-Lys-Thr-Phe)         (SEQ ID NO: 22).         87. The vaccine according to Item 81 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is 38(Lys-Thr-Phe-Glu-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Val) (SEQ ID         NO: 23).         88. The vaccine according to Item 81 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is 66(Pro-Gln-Leu-Thr-Asp-Val-Leu-Asn-Ser)         (SEQ ID NO: 24).         89. The vaccine according to Item 81 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is 93(Ala-Lys-Glu-Phe-Glu-Ala-Ala-Ala) (SEQ ID         NO: 25).         90. The vaccine according to Item 81 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is 124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr) (SEQ         ID NO: 26).         91. The vaccine according to Item 82 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is         127(Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID NO: 27).         92. The vaccine according to Item 82 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is         124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID         NO: 28).         93. The vaccine according to Item 67 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is selected from the group consisting         essentially of     -   3(Lys-Asn-Ile-Thr-Val-Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro) (SEQ ED NO: 29),     -   8(Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ         ID NO: 30),     -   11(Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ ID NO: 20),     -   20(Ala-Asp-Gly-Asn-Ala-Leu-Pro-Ser-Ala-Val) (SEQ ED NO: 12),     -   124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID         NO: 28),     -   126(Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ED NO:         31), and mixtures thereof.         94. The vaccine according to Item 93 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is         3(Lys-Asn-Ile-Thr-Val-Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro) (SEQ ID NO: 29).         95. The vaccine according to Item 93 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is         8(Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ         ID NO: 30).         96. The vaccine according to Item 93 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is         11(Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ ID NO: 20).         97. The vaccine according to Item 93 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is 20(Ala-Asp-Gly-Asn-Ala-Leu-Pro-Ser-Ala-Val)         (SEQ ID NO: 12).         98. The vaccine according to Item 93 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is         124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID         NO: 28).         99. The vaccine according to Item 93 wherein the antigenic         synthetic peptide is         126(Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID NO:         31).         100. The method of Item 54, wherein the viral infection is         caused by a virus selected from the group consisting essentially         of hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, Varicella-Zoster         virus, Epstein-Barr virus, Rotaviruses, polio virus, human         immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex virus type 1, human         retroviruses, herpes simplex virus type 2, Ebola virus,         cytomegalo viruses, Herpes Simplex viruses, Human         cytomegalovirus, Varicella-Zoster Virus, Epstein-Barr Virus,         Poxvirus, Influenza viruses, Parainfluenza viruses, Respiratory         Syncytial virus, Rhinoviruses, Coronaviruses, Adenoviruses,         Measles virus, Mumps virus, Robella Virus, Human Parvoviruses,         Arboviruses, Rabies virus, Enteroviruses, reoviruses, Viruses         Causing gasroenteritis Hepatitis Viruses, Filoviruses,         Arenaaviruses, Papillomaviruses, Polyomaviruses, Human         Immunodeficiency viruses, Human Retroviruses, and Spongiform         Encephalopathies.         101. The method in accordance with Item 49 comprising         administering orally to said mammal an immunogenic amount of a         pharmaceutical composition consisting essentially of an antigen         in the amount of 0.1 to 1%.         102. A vaccine for the immunization of a mammal against         infection by pathogenic organisms consisting essentially of an         antigen in the amount of 0.1 to 1% encapsulated within a         biodegradable-biocompatible polymeric         poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) matrix wherein the polymer is         end-capped or a blend of uncapped and end-capped polymers.         103. The vaccine according to Item 100 wherein the polymer is a         blend of end-capped and uncapped polymers.         104. The vaccine according to Item 103 wherein the relative         ratio between the lactide and glycolide component is within the         range of 90/10 to 40/60.         105. The vaccine according to Item 103 wherein the relative         ratio between the amount of lactide and glycolide component is         within the range of 48/52 to 52/48.         106. The vaccine according to Item 102 wherein the antigen is a         bacteria or derivatives thereof.         107. The vaccine according to Item 103 wherein the antigen is a         virus or derivatives thereof.         108. The vaccine according to Item 103 wherein the antigens is a         parasite or derivative thereof.         109. The vaccine according to Item 103 wherein the antigen is a         fungus or derivative thereof.         110. The vaccine according to Item 106 wherein the bacteria is         selected from the group consisting essentially of Salmonella         typhi, Shigella Sonnei, Shigella Flexneri, Shigella dysenteriae,         Shigella boydii, Escheria coli, Vibrio cholera, Group D-2, Group         E, Group G, Group I, Group 1, Listeria, Erysipelothrix,         Mycobacterium, Aerobic patogenic, Actinomyctales,         Enterobacteriaceae, Vibrio, aeromonas, Plesiomonas,         Helicobacter, W. succinogenes, Acineto bacter spp.,         Foavobacterium, Pseudomonas, Legionella, Brucella, Haemophilus,         Bordetalla, Mycoplasmas, Gardnerella, Streptobacillus,         Spirillum, Calymmatobacterium, Clostridium, Treponema, Borrelia,         Leptospira, Anaerobic Gram-negative Bacteria including bacilli         and Cocci, Anaerobic gram-Positive Nonsporeforming Bacilli and         Cocci, yersinia, staphylococcus; clostridium, Enteroccus,         Streptoccus, Aerococcus, Planococcus, Stomatococcus,         Micrococcus, Lactoccus, Germella, Pediococcus, Leuconostoc,         Bacillus, Neisseria, Branhamella, Coryne bacterium,         campylobacter, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, Rhodocoocus spp.,         Rhdococcus, Group A-4.         111. The vaccine of Item 107 wherein the virus is selected from         the group consisting essentially of hepatitis A, hepatitis B,         hepatitis C, Varicella-Zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus,         Rotaviruses, polio virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),         herpes simplex virus type 1, human retroviruses, herpes simplex         virus type 2, Ebola virus, cytomegalo viruses, Herpes Simplex         viruses, Human cytomegalovirus, Varicella-Zoster Virus,         Epstein-Barr Virus, Poxvirus, Influenza viruses, Parainfluenza         viruses, Respiratory Syncytial virus, Rhinoviruses,         Coronaviruses, Adenoviruses, Measles virus, Mumps virus, Robella         Virus, Human Parvoviruses, Arboviruses, Rabies virus,         Enteroviruses, reoviruses, Viruses Causing gastroenteritis         Hepatitis Viruses, Filoviruses, Arenaaviruses, Papillomaviruses,         Polyomaviruses, Human Immunodeficiency viruses, Human         Retroviruses, and Spongiform Encephalopathies.         112. An immunostimulating composition comprising         encapsulating-microspheres, which may contain a         pharmaceutically-acceptable adjuvant, wherein said microspheres         having a diameter between 1 nanogram (ng) to 10 microns (um) are         comprised of (a) a biodegradable-biocompatible poly         (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) as the bulk matrix, wherein the         copolymer (lactide to glycolide L/G) ratio for uncapped and         endapped polymer is 0/100 to 1/99 and (b) an immunogenic         substance comprising a bacteria, virus, fungus, parasite, or         derivative thereof, that serves to elicit the production of         antibodies in animal subjects.         113. An immunostimulating composition according to Item 112         wherein the amount of said immunogenic substance is within the         range of 0.1 to 1.5% based on the volume of said bulk matrix.         114. An immunostimulating composition according to Item 10         wherein the immunogenic substance comprises Colony Factor         Antigen (CFA/II), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), a mixture         thereof physiologically similar antigen.         115. An immunostimulating composition according to Item 113         wherein the relative ratio between the lactide and glycolide         component is within the range of 48/52 to 52/48.         116. An immunostimulating composition according to Item 113         wherein the size of more 50% of said microspheres is between 5         to 10 um in diameter by volume.         117. An immunostimulating composition according to Item 113         wherein the immunogenic substance is the synthetic peptide         representing the peptide fragment beginning with the amino acid         residue 63 through 78 of Pilus Protein CS3, said residue having         the amino acid sequence,         63(Ser-Lys-Asn-Gly-Thr-Val-Thr-Tyr-Ala-His-Glu-Thr-Asn-Asn-Ser-Ala)         (SEQ ID NO: 33).         118. A vaccine comprising an immunostimulating composition of         Item 113 and a sterile, pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier         therefor.         119. A vaccine comprising an immunostimulating composition of         Item 118 wherein said immunogenic substance is Colony Factor         Antigen (CFA/II).         120. A vaccine comprising an immunostimulating composition of         Item 119 wherein said immunogenic substance is hepatitis B         surface antigen (HBsAg).         121. A method for the vaccination against bacterial infection         comprising administering to a human, an antibactericidally         effective amount of a composition of Item 118.         122. A method according to Item 121 wherein the bacterial         infection is caused by a bacteria selected from the group         consisting essentially of Salmonella typhi, Shigella sonnei,         Shigella Flexneri, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella boydii,         Escheria coli, Vibrio cholera, Group D-2, Group E, Group G,         Group I, Group 1, Listeria, Erysipelothrix, Mycobacterium,         Aerobic pathgenic Actinomycetales, Enterobacteriaceae, Vibrio,         aeromonas, Plesiomonas, Helicobacter, W. succinogenes, Acineto         bacter ssp., Foavobacterium, Pseudomonas, Legionella, Brucella,         Haemophilus, Bordetala, Mycoplasmas, Gardnerella,         Streptobacillus, Spirillum, Calymmatobacterium, Clostridium,         Treponema, Borrelia, Leptospira, Anaerobic, Gram-negative         Bacteria including bacilli and Cocci, Anaerobic gram-Positive         Nonsporeforming Bacilli and Cocci, yersinia, staphylococcus,         clostridium, Enteroccus, Streptoccus, Aerococcus, Planococcus,         Stomatococcus, Micrococcus, Lactoccus, Germella, Pediococcus,         Leuconostoc, Bacillus, Nesseria, Branhamella, Coryne bacterium,         campylobacter, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, Rhodococcus spp.,         Rhodococcus, Group A-4.         123. A method for the vaccination against viral infection         comprising administering to a human an antivirally effective         amount of a composition of Item 108.         124. A diagnostic assay for bacterial infections comprising a         composition of Item 7.         125. A method of preparing an immunotherapeutic agent against         infections caused by a bacteria comprising the steps of (1)         immunizing a plasma donor with a vaccine according to Item 52         such that a hyperimmune globulin is produced which contains         antibodies directed against the bacteria; (2) seating the         hyperimmune globulin and (3) purifying the hyperimmune globulin.         126. A method preparing an immunotherapeutic agent against         infections caused by a virus comprising the step of immunizing a         plasma donor with a vaccine according to Item 126 such that         hyperimmune globulin is produced which contains antibodies         directed against the hepatitis B virus.         127. An immunotherapy method comprising the step administering         to a subject an immunostimulatory amount of hyperimmune globulin         prepared according to Item 125.         128. An immunotherapy method comprising the step of         administering to a subject an immunostimulatory amount of         hyperimmune globulin prepared according to Item 125.         129. A method for the protection against infection of a subject         by enteropathogenic organisms or hepatitis B virus comprising         administering to said subject an immunogenic amount of an         immunostimulating composition of Item 112.         130. A method according to Item 127 wherein the         immunostimulating composition is administered orally.         131. A method according to Item 127 wherein the         immunostimulating composition is administered parenterally.         132. A method according to Item 127 wherein the         immunostimulating composition is administered in four separate         doses on day 0, day 7, day 14, and day 28.         133. A method according to Item 114 wherein the immunogenic         substance is the synthetic peptide representing the peptide         fragment beginning with the amino acid residue 63 through 78 of         Pilus Protein CS3 said residue having the amino acid sequence         63(Ser-Lys-Asn-Gly-Thr-Val-Thr-Tyr-Ala-His-Glu-Thr-Asn-Asn-Ser-Ala)         (SEQ ID NO: 33).         134. A method for the protection against or therapeutic         treatment of bacterial infection in the soft tissue or bone of a         mammal comprising administering locally to said mammal a         bactericidally-effective amount of a composition of Item 2,         wherein the active material is an antibiotic which is controlled         release within a period of about 1 to 100 days.         135. The method according to Item 134 wherein the biodegradable         poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) is a blend of uncapped and         end-capped forms having a relative ratio between the amount of         lactide and glycolide component within the range of 100/0 to         1/99.         136. A method according to Item 135 wherein the bacterial         infection is (1) a subcutaneous infection secondary to         contaminated abdominal surgery, (2) an infection surrounding         prosthetic devices and vascular grafts, (3) ocular         infections, (4) topical skin infections, (5) orthopedic         infections, including osteomyelitis, and (6) oral infections.         137. The method according to Item 136 wherein the oral         infections are pericoronitis or periodontal disease.         138. The method according to Item 135 wherein the administration         is effected prior to infection.         139. The method according to Item 135 wherein the administration         is effected subsequent to infection.         140. The method according to Item 135 wherein said animal is a         human.         141. The method according to Item 135 wherein said animal is a         nonhuman.         142. The method in accordance with Item 135 comprising applying         to the soft tissue or bone tissue of said animal a         bactericidally-effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition         consisting essentially of an antibiotic in the ant, selected         from the group consisting of a beta-lactam, aminoglycolide,         polymyxin-b, Amphotericin B, Aztreonam, cephalosporins,         chloramphenicol, fusidans, lincosamides, macolides,         methronidazole, nitro-furation, Imipenem/cilastin, quinolones,         refampin, polyenes, tetacycline, sulfonamides, trimethoprim,         vancomycin, teicoplanin, imidazoles, and erythromycin,         encapsulated within a biodegradable         poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) polymeric matrix, wherein the         amount of the lactide and glycolide (L/G) component is within         the range of 48/52 to 52/48 based on the weight of said         polymeric matrix which is present in the amount of from 40 to 95         percent, resulting in the controlled release of a bacteriacidal         amount of the said antibiotic over a period of from 1 to 100         days.         143. The method of Item 142 wherein the polymeric matrix         consists essentially of a poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) wherein         the relative ratio between the amount of lactide and glycolide         (L/G) component is within the range of 48/52 to 52/48.         144. The method of Item 142 wherein the bacterial infection is         caused by a resistant or non-resistant bacteria selected from         the group consisting essentially of Enterobacteriaceae;         Klebsiella sp.; Bacteroides sp. Enterococci; Proteus sp.;         Streptococcus sp.; Staphylocoocus sp.; Pseudomonas sp.;         Neisseria sp.; Pedptostreptococcus sp.; Fusobacterium sp.;         Actinomyces sp., Mycobacterium sp.; Listeria sp.;         Corynebacterium sp.; Proprionibacterium sp.; Actinobacillus sp.;         Aerobacter sp.; Borrelia sp.; Campylobacter sp.; cytophaga sp.;         Pasteurella sp.; Clostridium sp.; Enterobacter aerogenes,         Peptococcus sp., Proteus vulgaris, Proteus morganii,         Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Actinomyces sp.,         Campylobacter fetus, and Legionella pneumophila,         ampillin-resistant strain of S. aureus, and         methicillin-resistant strain of S. aureus.         145. The method of Item 142 wherein the antibiotic is selected         from the group consisting essentially of a beta-lactam,         aminoglycolide, polymyxin-B, amphotericin B, azbeonam,         cephalosporins, chloramphenicol, fusidans, lincosamides,         macrolides, methronidazole, nitro-furantoin, Imipenem/cilastin,         quinolones, rifampin, polyenes, tetracycline, sulfonamides,         trimethoprim, vancomycin, teicoplanin, imidazoles, and         erythromycin.         146. The method of Item 145 wherein the beta-lactam is         cephalosporin.         147. The method of Item 145 wherein the beta-lactam is         penicillin.         149. The method of Item 145 wherein the aminoglycolide is         amikacin.         150. The method of Item 145 wherein the aminoglycolide is         tobramycin.         151. The method of Item 145 wherein the aminoglycolide is         kanamycin.         152. The method of Item 145 wherein the beta-lactam is an         ampicillin.         153. The method of Item 152 wherein the polymeric matrix         consists essentially of a poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) wherein         the relative ratio between the amount of lactide and glycolide         (L/G) component is within the range of 48/52 to 58/42.         154. The method of Item 152 wherein the ampicillin is present in         an amount of from 5 to 60 percent and the amount of polymeric         matrix is from 40 to 95 percent.         155. The process of using the composition of Item 1 to treat         humans in need, thereof, suffering from diseases and/or ailments         from the group consisting of: viral infections; bacterial         infections; fungal infections; parasitic infections and more         specific diseases and/or ailments; such as as, aids; alzheimer's         dementia; angiogenesis diseases; aphthour ulcer in AIDS         patients; asthma; atopic dermatitis; psoriasis; basal cell         carcinoma; benign prostatic hypertrophy; blood substitute; blood         substitute in surgery patients; blood substitute in trauma         patients; breast cancer; breast cancer; cutaneous & metastatic;         cachexia in AIDS; campylobacter infection; cancer; pnemonia;         sexually transmitted diseases (STDs); cancer; viral diseases;         candida albicians in AIDS and cancer; candidiasis in HIV         infection; pain in cancer; pancreatic cancer, parkinson's         disease; peritumoral brain edema; postoperative adhesions         (prevent); proliferative diseases; prostate cancer; ragweed         allergy; renal disease; restenosis; rheumatoid arthritis;         rheumatoid arthritis; allergies; rotavirus infection; scalp         psoriasis; septic shock, small-cell lung cancer; solid tumors;         stroke; thrombosis; type I diabetes; type I diabetes w/kidney         transplants; type II diabetes; viseral leishmaniasis; malaria;         periodontal or gum disease; cardiac rthythm disorders; central         nervous system diseases; central nervous system disorders;         cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis); choridal         neovascularization; chronic hepatitis c, b and a; colitis         associated with antibiotics; colorectal cancer; coronary artery         thrombosis; cryptosporidiosis in AIDS; cryptosporidium parvum         diarrhea in AIDS; cystic fibrosis; cytomegalovirus disease;         depression; social phobias; panic disorder, diabetic         complications; disabetic eye disease; diarrhea associated with         antibiotics; erectile dysfunction; genital herpes; graft-vs host         disease in transplant patients; growth hormone deficiency; head         and neck cancer; head trauma; stroke; heparin neutralization         after cardiac bypass; hepatocellular carcinoma; HIV; HIV         infection; huntington'disease; CNS diseases;         hypercholesterolemia; hypertension; inflammation; inflammation         and angiogensis; inflammation in cardiopulmonary bypass;         influenza; migrain head ache; interstitial cystitis; kaposi's         sarcoma; kaposi's sarcoma in AIDS; lung cancer; melanoma;         molluscum contagiosum in AIDS; multiple sclerosis; neoplastic         meningitis from solid tumors; non-small cell lung cancer; organ         transplant rejection; osteoarthritis; rheumatoid arthritis;         osteoporosis; drug addiction; shock; ovarian cancer, Amebiasis;         Babesiasis; Chagas' disease (Trypanosoma cruzi);         Cryptosporidiosis; Cysticercosis; Fascioliasis; Filariasis;         Echinococcosis; Giardiasis; Leishmaniasis; Malaria;         Paragonimiasis; Pneumocystosis; Schistosomiasis;         Strongylodiasis; Toxocariasis; Toxoplasmosis; Tnchinellosis;         Trichomoniasis; yeast infection; and pain.         156. A vaccine for prepared from the composition of Item 1 to         prevent the occurrence in humans of diseases and/or ailments         comprising viral infections; bacterial infections; fungal         infections; parasitic infections and more specific diseases         and/or ailments; such as as, aids; alzheimer's dementia;         angiogenesis diseases; aphthour ulcers in AIDS patients; asthma;         atopic dermatitis; psoriasis; basal cell carcinoma; benign         prostatic hypertrophy; blood substitute; blood substitute in         surgery patients; blood substituted in trauma patients; breast         cancer; breast cancer; cutaneous & metastatic; cachexia in AIDS;         campylobacter infection; cancer; pnemonia; sexually transmitted         diseases (STDs); cancer; viral diseases; candida albicians in         AIDS and cancer; candidiasis in HIV infection; pain in cancer;         pancreatic cancer; parkinson's disease; peritumoral brain edema;         postoperative adhesions (prevent); proliferative diseases;         prostate cancer; ragweed allergy; renal disease; restenosis;         rheumatoid arthritis; rheumatoid arthritis; allergies; rotavirus         infection; scalp psorias; septic shock; small-cell lung cancer;         solid tumors; stroke; thrombosis; type I diabetes; type I         diabetes w/kidney transplants; type II diabetes; viseral         leishmaniasis; malaria; periodontal or gum disease; cardiac         rthythm disorders; central nervous system diseases; central         nervous system disorders; cervical dystonia (spasmodic         torticollis); choridal neovascularization; chronic hepatitis c,         b and a; colitis associated with antibiotics; colorectal cancer;         coronary artery thrombosis; cryptosporidiosis in AIDS;         cryptosporidium parvum diarrhea in AIDS; cystic fibrosis;         cytomegalovirs disease; depression; social phobias; panic         disorder; diabetic complications; disabetic eye disease;         diarrhea associated with antibiotics; erectile dysfunction;         genital herpes; graft-vs host disease in transplant patients;         growth hormone deficiency; head and neck cancer; head trauma;         stroke; heparin neutralization after cardiac bypass;         hepatocellular carcinoma; HIV; HIV infection; huntington's         disease; CNS diseases; hypercholesterolemia; hypertension;         inflammation; inflammation and angiogensis; inflammation in         cardiopulmonary bypass; influenza; migrain head ache;         interstitial cystitis; kaposi's sarcoma; kaposi's sarcoma in         AIDS; lung cancer; melanoma; molluscum contagiosum in AIDS;         multiple sclerosis; neoplastic meningitis from solid tumors;         non-small cell lung cancer; organ transplant rejection;         osteoarthritis; rheumatoid arthritis; ostcioporosis; drug         addiction; shock; ovarian cancer; Amebiasis; Babesiasis; Chagas'         disease (Trypanosoma cruzi); Cryptosporidiosis; Cysticercosis;         Foscioliasis; Filariasis; Echinococcosis; Giardiasis;         Leishmanasis; Malaria; Paragonimiasis; Pneumocystosis;         Schistosomiasis; Strongylodisais; Toxocariasis; Toxoplasmosis;         Trichinellosis; Trichomoniasis yeast infection; and pain.

As noted, in the Summary of the Invention section herein, a discussion of this invention will be presented as Phases I, II and III.

Phase I

This illustrative phase of the invention presents the novel use of a pharmaceutical composition, a micro- or macrocapsule/sphere formulation, which comprises an antibiotic encapsulated within a biodegradable polymeric matrix such as poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (DL-PLG) in the effective pretreatment of mammals to prevent bacterial infections and the posttreatment of mammals (including humans and non-human mammals) with bacterial infections. Microcapsules and microspheres are usually powders consisting of spherical particles of 2 millimeter or less in diameter, usually 50 micrometer or less in diameter. If the particles are less than 1 micron, they are often referred to as nanocapsules or nanospheres. For the most part, the difference between microcapsules and nanocapsules is their size; their internal structure is about the same. Similarly, the difference between microspheres and nanospheres is their size; their internal structure is about the same.

A microcapsule (or nanocapsule) has its encapsulated material, herein after refereed to as agent, centrally located within a unique membrane, usually a polymeric membrane. This membrane may be termed a wall-forming material, and is usually a polymeric material. Because of their internal structure, permeable microcapsules designed for controlled-release applications release their agent at a constant rate (zero-order rate of release). Hereinafter, the term mirocapsule will include nanocapsules, and particles in general that comprise a central core surrounded by a unique outer membrane.

A microsphere has its agent dispersed throughout the particle; that is, the internal structure is a matrix of the agent and excipient, usually a polymer excipient. Usually controlled-release microspheres release their agent at a declining rate (first-order). But microspheres can be designed to release agents at a near zero-order rate. Microspheres tend to be more difficult to rupture as compared to microcapsules because their internal structure is stronger. Hereinafter, the term microspheres will include nanospheres, microparticles, nanoparticles, microsponges (porous microspheres) and particles in general, with an intern structure comprising a matrix of agent and excipient.

One can use other terms to describe larger microcapsules or microspheres, that is, particles greater than 500 micrometer to 7 millimeter or larger. These terms are macrocapsules, macrospheres, macrobeads and beads. Macrocapsules, macrospheres, macrobeads and beads will be used interchangably herein.

More particularly, the applicants have discovered efficacious pharmaceutical compositions wherein the relative amounts of antibiotic to the polymer matrix are within the ranges of 5 to 60 preferred that relative ratio between the lactide and glycolide component of the poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) is within the range of 40:60 to 100:0, most preferably. Applicants' most preferred composition consists essentially of 30 to 40(core loading) and 60 to 70 poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (DL-PLG). However, it is understood that effective core loads for other antibiotics will be influenced by the nature of the drug, the microbialetiology and type of infection being prevented and/or treated. From a biological perspective, the minimal inflammatory response, is biologically compatible, and degrades under physiologic conditions to products that are nontoxic and readily metabolized. Similar polymeric compositions which afford in release kinetics, as discussed below for DL-PLG, are considered by applicants to be within the scope of this invention. Applicants have discovered that antibiotic encapsulated microcapsules/spheres or macrocapsules/spheres (beads) having a diameter within the range of about 40 microns to about 7 millimeters to be especially useful in the practice of this invention.

Surprisingly, applicants have discovered an extremely effective method of treating bacterial infections of soft-tissue or (bone osteomyelitis) and preventing these type infections with antibiotics such as beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, polymyxin-B, amphotericin B, aztreonam, cephalosporins, chloramphenicol, fusidans, lincosamides, macrolides, metronidazole, nitro-furantoin, Imipenem/cilastin, quinolones, rifampin, polyenes, tetracycline, sulfonamides, trimethoprim, vancomycin, teicoplanin, imidazoles, and erythromycin 1) micro- and macroencapsulated or 2) micro- and macrospheres formulated within a polymeric matrix such as a poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide), which has been formulated to release the antibiotic at a controlled, programmed rate over a desirable extended period of time. The microcapsules/spheres have been found to be effective when applied locally, including topically, to open contaminated wounds thereby facilitating the release of the antibiotic from multiple sites within the tissue in a manner which concentrates the antibiotic in the area of need. Similarly, the encapsulated antibiotics of this invention both in the microcapsule/sphere and macrocapsule/sphere (bead) form are effective for the prevention and treatment of orthopedic infections that include osteomyelitis, contaminated open fractures, and exchange revision arthroplasty. The macrocapsules/sphere addition the option to the surgeon of using the subject invention as a packing material for dead space. The subject invention offers an optimal treatment for orthopaedic infections because release of the antibiotic from the micro or macrocapsule/sphere is completely controllable over time; antibiotic can be encapsulated into the sphere; the sphere can be made of any size; and unlike the methylmethracrylate beads, the subject invention biodegrades over time to nontoxic products and does not have to be surgically removed from the treated site. Since virtually any antibiotic can be encapsulated into the polymer the instant invention can be used to sustain release all known antibiotics.

Applicants have discovered and/or contemplate that local application of microencapsulated or macroencapsulated antibiotic provides immediate, direct, and sustained dosing which targets the antibiotic to the pre- or post infected soft-tissue or bone site, and minimizes problems inherent in systemic drug administration. It appears to applicants that there is a significant reduction of nonspecific binding of antibiotic to body proteins, while in route to targeted sites when the antibiotic has been encapsulated in accordance with this invention. Additionally, antibiotics with short half-lives can be used more efficiently, undesirable side-effects can be minimized, and multiple dosing can be eliminated. These attributes satisfy a long-felt need to improve the effectiveness and predictability of drug delivery to accomplish the desired clinical result in patients.

The ability to concentrate the antibiotic within the wound site ensures an extended period of direct contact between an effective antibiotic level and the infecting microorganisms. Many drugs have a therapeutic range below which they are ineffective and above which they are toxic. Oscillating drug levels, commonly observed following systemic administration, may cause alternating periods of ineffectiveness and toxicity. A single dose of desired therapeutic range. Applicants have discovered that microencapsulated or macroencapsulated heavy concentrated doses of antibiotics are effective for the treatment and prevention of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Topical application of the antibiotic microcapsule/sphere formulation to infected wounds allows local application of the antibiotic in a single dose, whereby an initial burst of antibiotic for immediate soft- or hard-tissue perfusion, followed by a prolonged, effective level of antibiotic is achieved in the tissue at the wound site. Applicants contemplate herein antibiotic microcapsules/spheres and macrocapsules/spheres consisting of an antibiotic and DL-PLG and the summarized results of illustrative experiments that evaluated the prototype microcapsules in vitro and in vivo.

The subject invention is successful in preventing and treating (1) soft-tissue infections, (2) osteomyelitis, and (3) infections surrounding internally fixed fractures. These results were confirmed using the microcapsule/sphere form of the encapsulated antibiotics. The microcapsule/sphere and macrocapsule/sphere are also of value in numerous other applications including soft-tissue infections that involve, but are not limited to the prevention and treatment of (1) subcutaneous infections secondary to contaminated abdominal surgery, (2) infections surrounding prosthetic devices and vascular grafts, (3) ocular infections, (4) topical skin infections, and (5) in oral infections such as pericoronitis and periodontal disease.

The biodegradation rate of the excipient is controllable because it is related to the mole ratio of the constituent monomers, the excipient molecular weight and the surface area of the microcapsules produced. Microcapsules/spheres with diameters of 250 micrometers or less are aerosol spray. The macrocapsules/spheres are manually placed in the tissue on bone by the surgeon at the time of surgical debridement. Due to the unique pharmacokinetic advantages with the continuous delivery of antibiotic into tissue from a controlled-release vehicle, applicants have found that a small total dose is required to obtain an optimal therapeutic effect.

VII. EXAMPLES

The herein offered examples provide methods for illustrating, without any implied limitation, the practice of this invention in the treatment of bacterial wound infections.

The profile of the representative experiments have been chosen to illustrate the antibacterial activity of antibiotic-polymeric matrix composites.

All temperatures not otherwise indicated are in degrees Celcius (° C.) and parts or percentages are given by weight.

Material and Methods

A. Microcapsule/spheres. The ampicillin anhydrate microspheres used in these studies (Composite Batch D 856-038-1) consisted of 30.7 wt in a copolymer of 52:48 poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide). The size of the microspheres ranged from 45 to 150 microns and they were sterilized with 2.0 Mrad of gamma irradiation.

Animals. New Zealand white rabbits (Dutchland Laboratories, Denver, Pa.), weighing 2.0 to 2.5 kg each, were used. The animals were housed in individual cages and were fed a standard laboratory diet. The experiments described herein were conducted in accordance with the principles set forth in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

Example 1

Osteomyelitis Model. The technique used to produce osteomyelitis was a modification of the procedure described previously by Norden. Briefly, New Zealand white rabbits (2.0-2.5 kg, each) were anesthetized with ketamine hydrochloride and xylazine and access to the medullary canal was gained by inserting an 18-guage Osgood needle (Becton Dickinson Corp., Rutherford, N.J.) into the right proximal tibial metaphysis. Through this needle was injected 0.1 ml of 5 Pharmaceuticals, Tenafly, N.J.) followed by injection of approximately 5×10⁶ CFU of S. aureus ATCC 6538P.

The hole in the bone was sealed with bone wax and each animal received a single subcutaneous injection of 3-ml TORBUTROL™ (A. J. Buck, Hunt Valley, Md.) for postoperative pain control. Antibiotic therapy was then initiated either immediately or was delayed for 7-days as described in detail below.

Example 2

Immediate Antibiotic Therapy. The initial experiment was designed to evaluate the efficacy of local therapy with microencapsulated ampicillin for the prevention of experimental osteomyelitis. A total of 31 rabbits were infected in the right proximal tibia with sodium morrhuate and S. aureus and treatment was initiated immediately as follows:

Group A (n=6) received three daily subcutaneous injections (75 mg/kg/day) of aqueous sodium ampicillin (Polycillin-N™, Bristol Laboratories, Syracuse, N.Y.) at 8-hour intervals for 14 consecutive days;]

Group B (n=7) received a single intramedullary injection of 100 mg of microencapsulated ampicillin containing an equivalent of 30.7 mg of ampicillin anhydrate. The microcapsules/spheres were suspended in 0.2-ml of 2 injection vehicle) and were then injected into the medullary canal through the same needle that was used to inject the sclerosing agent and bacteria;

Group C (n=4) received a single intramedullary injection of 0.12 ml (30.7 mg) of aqueous sodium ampicillin (representing the unencapsulated free drug); and

Groups D, E, and F (n=14) served as controls and received either an intramedullary injection of placebo microcapsules (10 mg) without antibiotic; injection vehicle (0.2 ml) without antibiotic; or no treatment.

The animals were observed for a total of 8-weeks during which time roentgenograms were obtained to evaluate the progression of the disease. All surviving animals were euthanized intraveneously at two months postinfection with T-61 euthanasia solution (1 mg/kg/iv) and the tibiae were harvested for bacteriological analysis as described below.

Example 3

Delayed Antibiotic Therapy Without Debridement. In the second experiment, a total of 30 rabbits were injected in the right proximal tibia with sodium morrhuate and S. aureus and the infection was allowed to become established for 7-days. On Day 7, the animals were reanesthetized and an incision was made over the patellar tendon to expose the tibial tuberosity. A 5-mm drill hole was made in the tibial tuberosity and a trocar, measuring approximately 15 centimeters in length, was inserted into the medullary canal to obtain a marrow specimen for culture. The animals were then randomly assigned to the following treatment groups:

Group A (n=8) received three daily subcutaneous injections of aqueous sodium ampicillin (75 mg/kg/day) at 8-hour intervals for 14-days;

Group B (n=8) received an intramedullary application of 150 mg of microencapsulated ampicillin containing an equivalent of 45 mg of ampicillin anhydrate. The microcapsules were initially suspended in 0.2 ml of the injection vehicle and then aspirated into a sterile trocar. The trocar was then inserted into the medullary canal through the drill hole in the tibial tuberosity;

Group C (n=8) received an intramedullary application of 0.18 ml (45 mg) of aqueous sodium ampicillin which was also delivered into the canal with a trocar; and

Group D (n=6) served as controls and received no treatment.

Following the implantation of the antibiotics into the medullary canal, the hole in the tibial tuberosity was sealed with bone wax and the incision site was closed with 3-0 Dexon sutures. All of the surviving animals were euthanized 8 weeks following the initiation of treatment and the tibiae were harvested for bacteriological analysis.

Example 4

Delayed Antibiotic Therapy With Debridement. Because standard treatment of chronic osteomyelitis requires the surgical removal of devitalized osseous tissue, the objective of this experiment was to evaluate the efficacy of local antibiotic therapy with microencapsulated ampicillin anhydrate when used in conjunction with debridement. A total of 30 rabbits were injected in the right proximal tibia with sodium morrhuate and S. aureus and the infection was allowed to establish for 7 days. On Day 7 each animal underwent a standardized surgical debridement of the infected tibia. The animals were anesthetized and an incision was made to expose the medial aspect of the tibia. A Hall drill was used to decorticate approximately one-third of the bone thereby creating a channel that extended the length of the bone. The canal was thoroughly debrided with a curette and then irrigated with 20 ml of sterile saline. Cultures of the marrow were obtained at this time for bacteriological analysis. Immediately following completion of the debridement procedure, the animals were randomly assigned to the following treatment groups:

Group A :(n=10) received 150 mg of microencapsulated ampicillin containing an equivalent of 45 mg of ampicillin anhydrate. The microcapsules were suspended in 0.2-ml of injection vehicle and were then implanted into the debrided canal with a sterile trocar;

Group B (n=10) received 45 mg of unencapsulated sodium ampicillin in powder form which was applied uniformly into the debrided canal; and

Group C (n=5) and Group D (n=5) served as controls and received either an intramedullary application of placebo microcapsules (150 mg) without antibiotic or (2) an injection vehicle (0.2 ml) without antibiotic, respectively.

Immediately following the implantation of the materials into the medullary canal, the incision site was closed with 3-0 Dexon sutures and each animal received 3-ml of Torbutrol™ for 3 consecutive days for postoperative pain. The animals were euthanized at 8 weeks following the initiation of treatment and the tibiae were harvested for bacteriological evaluation.

Example 5

Roentgenographic Evaluation. Radiographs of the infected tibiae were obtained at various time intervals and were evaluated by a board certified skeletal radiologist (LMM) using a grading system that was originally developed by Norden et al. Four radiographic parameters (sequestrum formation, periosteal reaction, bone destruction, and extent of disease) were evaluated for each animal and a numerical value was assigned for each variable. The scores were then totaled to arrive at an overall radiographic severity score. The highest total score possible with this grading scheme was +7 and reflected the maximum degree of radiographic severity.

Example 6

Cultures of Bone. For bacteriological evaluation, the tibiae were dissected free of adherent soft-tissue and the surface of the bone was cleaned with alcohol pads. The bone was then weighed and crushed to small pieces with a sterile mortar and pestle. The crushed bone was suspended in 5 ml of sterile saline and serial 10-fold dilutions were prepared in 0.1 Each dilution (0.1 ml) was then streaked onto both sheep blood agar and mannitol salt agar plates which were incubated aerobically at 37° C. for 24 hours. The recovery of any S. aureus colonies from the bones was evidence of a persistent osseous infection and was considered as a treatment failure.

Example 7

Measurement of Serum Ampicillin Levels. In the experiment where local antibiotic therapy was used in conjunction with debridement, serum levels of ampicillin were measured for all of the animals treated with either an intramedullary application of microencapsulated ampicillin anhydrate (Group A) or unencapsulated free drug (Group B). Serum was obtained from all animals at 1 hour, 1 day, and 7 days following the implantation of the antibiotics into the tibiae and serum ampicillin levels were measured using the agar-well diffusion assay described previously in detail by Bennett et al. A standard curve was constructed relating the size of the zones of inhibition obtained with a series of ampicillin standards tested against Sarcina lutea ATCC 9341 as the reference organism. Ampicillin concentrations in the test sera were then calculated from this standard curve.

Results of Examples 1 Through 7

Immediate Antibiotic Therapy. The results of the initial experiment showing the effect of immediate parenteral versus local ampicillin therapy for the prevention of experimental osteomyelitis are presented in Table 2. Radiographic changes were initially detected in the control animals (Groups D, E, and F) at 2 weeks postinfection and consisted predominantly of periosteal reaction. By 7 weeks, however, the majority of the control animals (75 scores ranging from +5.25 to +7.00 indicating extensive osseous involvement. Radiographic evidence of osteomyelitis was absent in animals that received either a 14 day course of parenteral ampicllin therapy (Group A) or those that received an intramedullary injection of unencapsulated ampicillin (Group C). Only a minimal periosteal reaction was noted at day 42 for Group B animals that received an intramedullary injection of microencapsulated ampicillin, however, all other radiographic parameters were found to be within normal limits. Cultures of the tibiae at 8 weeks following the initiation of treatment showed that all of the animals treated with either a 14 day course of parenteral ampicillin therapy or a single intramedullary injection of microencapsulat d ampicillin had sterile bone cultures. Free unencapsulated ampicillin, injected locally into the bone, was also effective and sterilized the tibiae of 3 of 4 (75 In contract, all 13 surviving control animals in Groups D, E, and F developed culture-positive osteomyelitis with S. aureus counts ranging from 1.3×10⁶ to 2.0×10⁷ CFU recovered per gram of bone.

Delayed Antibiotic Therapy Without Debridement. Table 3 shows the results of the experiment when antibiotic therapy was delayed for 7 days postinfection and was then initiated without debridement of the 8 animals in Group A that received a 14 day course of parenteral ampicillin therapy, 6 (75 aureus bone cultures. Only 2 of these animals survived the entire length of the experimental protocol; six animals died within 1-2 weeks of completing their antibiotic therapy after developing profuse diarrhea. Of the 7 surviving rabbits in Group C that received an intramedullary application of 45 mg of unencapsulated ampicillin, 5 (71 with a single intramedullary application of microenrcapsulated. ampicillin anhydrate (Group B) sterilized the tibiae of 4 of 8 (50 of S. aureus recovered from the tibiae of the other animals in this group as compared with the controls (Group D). All of the control animals developed osteomyelitis with an average of 2.8×10⁵ CFU of S. aureus recovered per gram of bone. A Chi square analysis of the proportion of animals in each treatment group with positive bone cultures showed no statistically significant differences among the groups (p=0.23).

Delayed Antibiotic Therapy With Debridement. In this experiment we evaluated the effect of local antibiotic therapy when used in conjunction with debridement for the treatment of a 7-day established osseous infection. Bacteriological cultures of the tibiae at the time of debridement (before antibiotic therapy was initiated) yielded S. aureus in 29 of 30 (97 shown in Table 4, all 10 of the animals in Group A that were treated with debridement plus microencapsulated ampicillin anhydrate had sterile bone cultures. In contrast, of the 10 animals in Group B that were treated with debridement plus unencapsulated ampicillin only 3 had sterile bone cultures whereas 7 developed culture-positive osteomyelitis. A Chi squire analysis showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.01) in the proportion of animals with sterile bone cultures in the microencapsulated ampicillin treated group as compared with the group that was treated with the unencapsulated form of the antibiotic. Debridement alone, without local antibiotic therapy, was not effective for the treatment of this established osseous infection with all 10 control animals (Groups C and D) developing culturepositive osteomyelitis.

Serum Ampicillin Levels. In the experiment where local antibiotic therapy was initiated in conjunction with debridement, serum concentrations of ampicillin were measured for all animals that received either an intramedullary application of microencapsulated ampicillin anhydrate or an equivalent dose of unencapsulated fre ampicillin. The data is presented in FIG. 1. Serum levels of ampicillin were only detected at 1-hour after the implantation of the antibiotics into the tibiae. At this time interval, the mean serum concentration of ampicillin in the Group B animals that received 45 mg of unencapsulated ampicillin (0.79+0.24 micrograms/ml) was approximately 7-fold higher than the mean serum ampicillin concentration of the Group A animals that received an equivalent dose of the microencapsulated form of the antibiotic (0.11+0.08 micrograms/ml).

Discussion Related to Examples 1 Through 7

Previous attempts to develop a biodegradable antibiotic delivery system for the local treatment of bone infections have met with only limited success. Zilch and Lambiris reported on the treatment of 46 patients with chronic osteomyelitis using a biodegradable fibrin-cefotaxim compound that was implanted into the bone at the time of surgical intervention and reported healing in only 67 limitation of this system was the rapid diffusion of the antibiotic from the fibrin carrier. High concentrations of cefotaxim could only be maintained locally in the would exudate for up to 72 hours. In a separate study, Dahners and Funderburk implanted gentamicin-loaded plaster of paris into the tibiae of rabbits with established staphylococcal osteomyelitis. Although they observed clinical and roentgenographic improvements as compared with nontreated controls, nevertheless, 80 animals treated with the gentamicin-loaded plaster of paris developed culture-positive osteomyelitis. Recently Gerhart et al. evaluated poly(propylenefumarate-co-methylmethacrylate) (PPF-MMA), as a potential biodegradable carrier for antibiotics. Following the subcutaneous implantation of gentamicin- or vancomycin-loaded cylinders of PPF-MMA in rats, high concentrations of each antibiotic were detected locally in the wound exudate while serum antibiotic levels remained low. Although the PPF-MMA appears promising as a potential biodegradable antibiotic carrier, the efficacy of this system remains to be demonstrated in an experimental animal model of osteomyelitis.

In the present application we evaluated biodegradable microspheres of poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide), containing 30.7 weight percent ampicillin anhydrate, in an experimental osteomyelitis model of the rabbit tibia. In the initial experiment where treatment was initiated immediately following the injection of S. aureus into the medullary canal, a single intramedullary injection of 100 mg of microencapsulated ampicillin effectively prevented the establishment of osteomyelitis in 100 of the animals tested (Table 2). Although a 14 day course of parenteral ampicillin therapy also prevented osteomyelitis in all animals, the total dose of antibiotic administered to these animals (1,050 mg) was 34 times higher than the dose administered to the animals treated locally with the ampicillin-loaded microcapsules (30.7 mg).

In the second experiment, where antibiotic therapy was delayed for 7 days and was instituted without debridement, a 14 day course of parenteral ampicillin therapy resulted in a 75 treatment failure rate (Table 3). Free unencapsulated ampicillin, implanted locally into the bone, was also ineffective with 71 these animals developing culture-proven osteomyelitis. A single intramedullary application of microencapsulated ampicillin, on the other hand, sterilized the tibiae of 50 significantly reduced the mean number of S. aureus colonies recovered from the tibiae of the other animals in this group. It is noteworthy that all animals treated locally with microencapsulated ampicillin anhydrate survived the duration of the experimental protocol without developing adverse side-effects. In contrast, 6 of 8 (75 parenteral ampicillin died within 1 to 2 weeks of completing their antibiotic therapy. The cause of death in these animals was most likely antibiotic-induce diarrhea resulting from colonization of the normal intestinal flora by Clostridium difficile, a phenomenon that has been previously noted with rabbits receiving parenteral ampicillin therapy.

In the final experiment, where local antibiotic therapy was delayed for 7 days and was instituted in conjunction with debridement, a 100 animals treated with debridement plus microencapsulated ampicillin (Table 4). In contrast, of the 10 animals treated with debridement plus an equivalent dose of unencapsulated ampicillin powder, 70 seen in FIG. 5, at 1 hour after implantation of the antibiotics into the medullary canal, the mean serum concentration of ampicillin in the animals receiving unencapsulated ampicillin was approximately 7 times higher (0.79+0.024 micrograms/ml) than in the group that was treated with microencapsulated ampicillin anhydrate (0.11+0.08 micrograms/ml). This finding suggests that the free unencapsulated drug diffuses rapidly from the site of administration and does not remain localized for a sufficient time interval to eradicate the infection. The fact that 70 animals treated with the unencapsulated form of the drug developed osteomyelitis substantiates this conclusion. The ampicillin-loaded microcapsules/spheres, on the other hand, remain localized at the site of administration thereby continuing to release high concentrations of the antibiotic over time resulting in the elimination of the infecting organisms.

Applicants' experimental studies have demonstrated that a controlled-release and biodegradable antibiotic delivery system was successful for the eradication of a susceptible organism from an osteomyelitic focus when used in conjunction with adequate debridement.

Preparation of Ampicillin Anhydrate Microcapsules Example 8

About 500 g of a 10 wt alcohol) (PVA) was added to a 1-L (liter) resin kettle and cooled to 5° C. while being stirred at 650 rpm with a 2.5-in. Teflon turbine impeller driven by a motor and a control unit. A solution consisting of 5 g of 68:32 poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) in a mixture of 40 g of dichloromethane and 20 g of acetone was prepared in a separate container and stirred magnetically while in an ice bath. In still another container, 5 g of ampicillin anhydrate was dispersed in 15 g acetone. This mixture was stirred magnetically and then sonicated to achieve uniform dispersion of single ampicillin anhydrate crystals. After sonication, the container was placed in an ice bath, magnetic stirring was continued, and additional acetone was added to give a total of 30 g of acetone. After complete dissolution of the copolymer, the ampicillin-acetone dispersion was added to the copolymer solution. The resulting mixture was stirred magnetically in an ice bath for about 30 minutes or until homogeneous, and it was then added to the reaction flask containing the aqueous PVA solution. The stir rate was reduced from 650 to 500 rpm after the addition was complete. After 15 minutes, the pressure was reduced to 550 torr to begin slow evaporation of the organic solvent (dichloromethane and acetone). The pressure was further reduced to 250 torr. This pressure was maintained for another 18 to 24 hours. The flask was then opened, the suspension was removed, and the microcapsules were separated from the PVA solution by centrifugation. The microcapsules were then washed twice with water, centrifuged, and washed once more with water and recovered by filtration. The microcapsules were then dried in vacuo and separated into various size fractions by sieving. A free-flowing powder of spherical particles was obtained.

Example 9

Dissolve 1.2 g of 50:50 poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) in 102 g of methylene chloride. Ampicillin anhydrate (0.8 g) is next added to the stirring copolymer solution. This mixture (dispersion of drug in the copolymer solution) is then placed in a 200-mL resin kettle equipped with a true bore stirrer having a 1.5-inch Teflon turbine impeller driven by a motor. While the mixture is stirring at 700 to 800 rpm, 48 mL of 100 centastoke (cSt) silicone oil is pumped into the resin kettle to cause the poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) to coacervate and coat the dispersed ampicillin anhydrate particles. After the silicone oil is added to the resin kettle, the contents of the kettle are poured into heptane to harden the microcapsules/spheres. After stirring in the heptane for 2 hours, the microcapsules/spheres are collected on a funnel an dried. A free-flowing powder of spherical different sized particles is obtained.

In Vitro Characterization of Microcapsules/spheres

The core loadings of microcapsules/spheres comprising [¹⁴C]-ampicillin anhydrate and DL-PLG were measured by liquid scintillation counting. The core loading of microcapsules/spheres consisting of unlabeled ampicillin anhydrate and some radiolabeled ampicillin anhydrate and DL-PLG was measured by using a microbial assay. In the former instance, microcapsules/spheres (about 15 mg) were solubilized in 1 ml of 0.5 N dimethyl dialkyl quarternary ammoniumhydroxide in toluene (Soluene-350) at 55° C. for 2 to 4 hours. Then, 14 ml of scintillation cocktail (1,4-bis[2-(5-phenyloxazolyl]benzene (PPO/POPOP) in toluene) was added, and the radioactivity was measured with a liquid scintillation spectrometer. In the latter instance, microcapsules/spheres (about 15 mg) were placed in 5 mL of methylene chloride. Following dissolution of the DL-PLG excipient, the insoluble ampicillin anhydrate was extracted from the methylene chloride with four volumes of sterile 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 8.0). These aqueous extracts were then assayed for the antibiotic using Sarcina lutea ATCC 9341 (American Tye Culture Collection, Rockville, Md.) and the agar-diffusion microbial assay previously described in the literature by Kavanagh, F. (ed.) Antibiotic Substances in Analytical Microbiology, Vol. II, 1972.

The in vitro release kinetics of [¹⁴C]-ampicillin anhydrate microcapsules/spheres was determined following the placement of 30 mg of microcapsules in an 8-ounce bottle. The release study was initiated by the addition of 50 mL of receiving fluid consisting of 0.1 m potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). The bottle was then sealed and placed in an oscillating (125 cycles/minutes) shaker bath maintained at 37° C. Periodically, a 3-mil aliquot of the receiving fluid was removed for assay and replaced with a fresh 3-ml aliquot of receiving fluid to maintain a constant volume of receiving fluid throughout the study. The 3-ml aliquots were assayed for drug by liquid scintillation counting using 12 ml Scinti Verse-I (Fisher Scientific Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.). The cumulative amount of the drug released into the receiving fluid was calculated.

The in vitro release kinetics of unlabeled ampicillin anhydrate microcapsules/spheres was determined in the following manner:

A known amount of ampicillin anhydrate microcapsules/spheres (about 4 mg of microencapsulated ampicillin anhydrate) and 5.0 ml of sterile receiving fluid (0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4) were added into dialysis tubing. The ends of the tubing were sealed with plastic clamps. The clamped dialysis tubing containing the microcapsules/spheres were placed into a sterile 8-ounce bottle containing 100 ml of sterile receiving fluid (0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4). The bottle was placed in a shaker bath maintained at 37° C. and shaked at 120 cycles per second with about 3-cm stroke. The receiving fluid was previously sterilized in an autoclave for 20 minutes at 121° C. Several dialysis tubing assemblies were prepared for one release study. At Days 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 13, 15, 18, and 25, one assembly was removed from its receiving fluid and air dried.

After drying the assembly, all particles remaining inside the dialysis tubing were quantitatively transferred to a sterile, glass test tube (16 by 125 mm), 5 ml of methylene chloride were added to dissolve the microcapsules, and the drug was extracted with three 5-ml portions of sterile 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 8.1). The extraction and preparation of the sample (along with controls) was performed using the procedures for core-loading analysis as discussed above in the extracted samples and controls using the microbiological assay. Knowing the amount of microcapsulated drug initially placed in the dialysis tubing and the amount of drug remaining in the dialysis tubing after incubation with receiving fluid, the amount of drug released was determined by calculating the difference between them.

In Vivo Release Profiles of Ampicillin from Microcapsules/spheres

The rate and duration of release of ampicillin anhydrate from the microcapsules/spheres were determined in vivo in rats. In one experiment, about 50- to 80-mg doses of microencapsulated and unencapsulated ampicillin anhydrate were sterilized in disposable syringes with a 2.0- or 2.5-Mrad dose of gamma radiation at dry-ice temperature. The sterile microcapsules/spheres and unencapsulated [¹⁴C]-ampicillin anhydrate were then suspended in about 2.0 mL of an injection vehicle comprising 2 wt percent of commercially available carboxymethyl cellulose (Type 7LF, Hercules Inc., Wilmington, Del.) and 1 wt percent Tween 20 (ICI Americas Inc., Wilmington, Del.) in sterile water and autoclaved at 121° C. for 15 minutes. The microcapsules/spheres were administered subcutaneously into the mid-back region of lightly anesthestized (ether), male Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were fed standard laboratory food and water ad libidum and were housed in individual stainless steel cages fitted with metabolism funnels and screens that separated and collected the feces and urine. The urine from each rat was collected, weighed, and analyzed for [¹⁴C]-content by liquid scintillation counting. The actual doses of microcapsules/spheres or unencapsulated drug administered to each rat was determined after injection by measuring the amount of drug residue in each syringe by liquid scintillation counting. The amount of radioactivity excreted daily by each rat was normalized by the dose of microencapsulated or unencapsulated ampicillin anhydrate that each rat actually received. This result was then plotted as a function of time.

In a second experiment, unlabelled ampicillin anhydrate microcapsules/spheres were tested in rats. The rats were administered the microcapsules/spheres in the same manner as that described in the first experiment. The microbiological assay described above was used to determine the amount of ampicillin in the serum of these rats.

In Vivo Efficacy Evaluation of Microcapsules/spheres

Experiments to evaluate the efficacy of prototype microcapsules/spheres in vivo were performed in 250- to 300-g male, Walter Reed strain, albino rats that were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital. The right hind leg was razor-shaved, scrubbed with Betadine (The Purdue Frederick Co., Norwalk, Conn.), and swabbed with 70 length and 1 cm deep was made in the thigh muscle and contaminated with 0.2 g of sterile dirt. The muscles were traumatized by uniformly pinching them with tissue forceps, and then the wounds were inoculated with known quantities of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538P and Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615. All rats were inoculated on the same day of the experiment with the same quantitated bacterial suspension to insure uniform inoculum in all wounds. The artificially contaminated wounds were treated within 1 hour by layering sterile, pre-weighed amounts of microencapsulated antibiotic directly on the wounds control groups consisted of animals with wounds that either received no therapy, were overlaid with placebo (unloaded) microcapsules/spheres, or were treated with locally applied, powdered unencapsulated ampicillin anhydrate. Following treatment, all wounds were sutured closed with 3-0 black silk.

Three groups of 20 rats each were used in an efficacy experiment to evaluate microcapsules/spheres A382-140-1 formulated from 70:30 DL-PLG. In this experiment, a group of animals with wounds overlaid with 0.5 g of unloaded microcapsules/spheres was substituted for the untreated (no therapy) group evaluated in each succeeding dose-response experiment. In addition, a group of 20 rats treated with 0.5 g of ampicillin anhydrate microcapsules/spheres per wound, and a group of 20 rats treated with 120 mg of locally applied uncapsulated ampicillin anhydrate powder per wound were evaluated. Five animals from each group were sacrificed at 2, 6, 8, and 14 days and evaluated for the presence of ampicillin in the serum and tissue and for the presence of infection.

Two dose-response experiments were performed in which Microcapsules/spheres A681-31-1, formulated from 70:30 DL-PLG, and Microcapsules/spheres B213-66-1S, formulated from 53:47 DL-PLG were evaluated. Seven groups of 15 rats each were treated with the doses of microcapsules shown in Table I. Each experiment included an additional group of 15 rats which remained untreated.

In dose-response Experiment I, five animals from each group were sacrificed at 2, 7, and 14 days and evaluated for ampicillin levels and number of bacteria present per gram of tissue at each wound site. Serum ampicillin levels were assayed at 2, 4, 7, and 14 days. In dose-response Experiment II, five animals from each group were sacrificed at 7, 14, and 21 days and evaluated for ampicillin levels and number of bacteria present per gram of tissue. Serum ampicillin levels were determined at 2, 7, 14, and 21 days.

Microcapsules/spheres in a 45 to 106 micron size range made by the phase-separation process were evaluated in these experiments. The ampicillin anhydrate content of the microcapsules/spheres (core loading), batch number, and ampicillin anhydrate equivalent for each dose of microcapsules/spheres are shown in Table 1.

In all experiments, bacterial counts were performed on homogenized, preweighed tissue that had been aseptically removed from the wound sites. Serial dilutions of the homogenized tissue specimens were plated on sheep blood agar. Colonies of Staphylocbccus aureus could be easily differentiated from Streptococcus pyogenes on the basis of colonial morphology. Tissue from varying distances around the wound site and serum removed by cardiac puncture were assayed for antibiotic content. This was accomplished by placing discs saturated with known quantities of serum or tissue homogenates on the surface of Mueller-Hinton agar which had been previously seeded with standardized amounts of Sarcina lutea ATCC 9341. Following incubation at 37° C., inhibition zones were measured. Freshly diluted stock solutions containing known quantities of ampicillin anhydrate served as standards. Diameters of the inhibition zones were converted to antibiotic concentrations using standard curves generated by plotting the logarithm of the drug concentration against the zone diameters.

Test Results Microcapsule/spheres In Vitro Evaluation

Ampicillin anhydrate was microencapsulated with DL-PLG excipient. DL-PLG is a biocompatible aliphatic polyester that undergoes random, nonenzymatic, hydrolytic scission of the ester linkages under physiological conditions to form lactic acid and glycolic acid. These hydrolysis products are readily metabolized. The purpose of the DL-PLG is to control the release of the ampicillin anhydrate from the antibiotic microcapsule/spheres formulation and to protect the reservoir of ampicillin anhydrate from degradation before it is released from the microcapsules/spheres. Two DL-PLG excipients were used in this study one DL-PLG had a lactide-to-glycolide mole ratio of 70:30 and the other, 53:47. The 53:47 DL-PLG biodegrades faster than the 70:30 DL-PLG because of its higher glycolide content.

A phase-separation microencapsulation process afforded microcapsules/spheres in yields of better than 95 The microencapsulated ampicillin anhydrated product was a fine, free-flowing powder. The microcapsules/spheres are relatively spherical in shape, but have puckered regions. Although these puckered regions exist, the polymer coating was continuous, and there was no evidence of any fractures or pinholes on the surfaces of the microcapsules. Moreover, the photomicrograph obtained by scanning electron microscopy of ampicillin anhydrate microcapsules did not show any evidence of free unencapsulated ampicillin anhydrate crystals either among the microcapsules or protruding through the surface of the microcapsules.

The drug content (core loading) of the ampicillin anhydrate microcapsule/sphere formations was measured to assess how much ampicillin anhydrate was incorporated in the microcapsules and to determine the bioactivity of the ampicillin anhydrate after it had been microencapsulated.

In general, the core loading of the 45- to 106 microns size fraction was similar to the theoretical core loading. The core loading of a few batches of [¹⁴C]-ampicillin anhydrate microcapsule/spheres was determined by microbial assay as well as by radioassay. Within experimental error, both assays gave similar results. This indicates that the ampicillin anhydrate was not inactivated during the microencapsulation process. Also, the core loading of ampicillin anhydrate microcapsules/spheres was determined by the microbial assay to determine the effect of 2.5 Mrad of gamma radiation on the microencapsulated drug. The radiation did not inactivate the drug because the core loading remained the same. For instance, 19.3 spheres with 70:30 DL-PLG assayed as 19.0 irradiation and 11.0 DL-PLG assayed as 11.4 irradiated unencapsulated and microencapsulated drug were also checked by thin layer chromatography. Irradiated and nonirradiated samples chromatographed the same, again indicating that no degradation of the drug was caused by gamma radiation at a dose of 2.5 Mrad.

In vitro release measurements were used to identify an ampicillin anhydrate microcapsuleisphere formulation that would release all of its drug at a controlled rate over a period of two weeks. The formulation that displayed the desired in vitro release kinetics were microcapsulesispheres with diameters of 45 to 106 microns consisting of about 10 wt percent ampicillin a anhydrate (Bristol Laboratories, Syracuse, N.Y.) and microcapsules/spheres with diameters of 10 to 100 microns consisting of about 35 wt percent ampicillin anhydrate (Wyeth Laboratories, West Chester, Pa.) and about 65 wt percent 53:47 DL-PLG. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the in vitro release profiles of two samples of these prototype microcapsules. The microcapsules released a desirable initial burst of drug, representing about 30 The remaining drug was then released at a slower controlled rate.

The in vitro release profile of sterilized (2.5 Mrad), 17.6 compared with the release profiles of sterilized (2.0 Mrad), 9.6 and 7.8 DL-PLG (FIG. 3).

Microcapsule/sphere In Vivo Evaluation

Pharmacokinetic studies were performed with unencapsulated ampicillin anhydrate and the same samples of microcapsules that were tested in vitro, as previously described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the unencapsulated drug as well as the microcapsules/spheres showed a fast release of drug during Day 1. By Day 4, the amount of ampicillin found in the urine or serum of animals dosed with the unencapsulated drug was below the level of detection of the assay. On the other hand, the microcapsule/sphere formulations maintained an elevated level of drug in the urine or serum for extended periods. Both samples of microcapsules/spheres made with the 53:47 DL-PLG had similar release profiles and released drug for about two weeks. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the microcapsules/spheres prepared with 70:30 DL-PLG released drug for at least four weeks. The results of these pharmacokinetic studies corroborate results of the in vivo release studies described. The 53:47 microcapsules/spheres closely meet the desired target duration of release of two weeks.

The slow rate of ampicillin release from the 70:30 microcapsules/spheres, as shown in FIG. 5, may be undesirable because a low level of ampicillin anhydrate released over a long period may provide favorable conditions for the development of drug-resistant bacterial strains. This slower r lease of drug could be attributed to the slower biodegradation rate of the 70:30 DL-PLG, where the water-soluble ampicillin anhydrate remained trapped inside the hydrophobic DL-PLG excipient until the excipient biodegraded completely. More specifically, for microcapsules/spheres prepared with either the 70:30 or 53:47 DL-PLG, one could speculate that the release of drug is due to diffusion of the drug through water-filled pores, pores that enlarge as more and more drug is released and as the DL-PLG bioerodes.

However, all ampicillin anhydrate microcapsules/spheres formulated effectively reduced bacterial counts in contaminated wounds. The most dramatic observation was the rapid elimination of Strentococcus Pyogenes. Streptococcus pyogenes was present in 90 from microcapsule/sphere-treated wounds within 48 hours. All three of the microcapsule/sphere batches evaluated were equally successful in eliminating this organism within two days. At 7 days Staphylococcus aureus remained in all treated wounds; however, compared to untreated controls, the bacterial count per gram of tissue decreased by at least 2 log₁₀ between Days 2 and 7. This reduction was not observed in untreated controls. In the efficacy evaluation of microcapsules/spheres A382-140-1, wounds treated with unloaded DL-PLG microcapsules, as well as those treated with topical unencapsulated ampicillin anhydrate, remained infected at 14 days with >10⁵ organisms per gram of tissue; whereas, 60 ampicillin anhydrate were sterile. The wounds of the remaining 4010³ organisms per gram of tissue. By 14 days, regardless of the dose administered (0.5-0.05 g), all wounds treated with microcapsule/sphere sample A681-31-1 were sterile; whereas, all untreated wounds remained infected with >10⁵ organisms per gram of tissue. At 14 days, all wounds treated with 0.15 g of microcapsules/spheres B213-66-1S were sterile, however, 5.7×10² Staphylococcus aureus per gram of tissue were counted in the wounds of one animal treated with a 0.25-g dose of encapsulated ampicillin anhydrate. This failure was attributed to an abscess around a suture on the wound surface. All wounds treated with 0.15 g of microcapsules/spheres (B213-66-1S) were sterile; however, in the group treated with a 0.05-g dose of microcapsules/spheres, one wound remained contaminated with 3.6×10⁴ Starhylococcus aureus per gram of tissue. The untreated control animals, evaluated in parallel with the microcapsule/sphere-treated groups, averaged 1.4×10⁵ Staphylococcus aureus per gram of tissue.

Serum levels of drug were dependent upon the ampicillin anhydrate reservoir present inside the microcapsules/spheres (core loading), the dose, and the ampicillin release characteristics. Administration of 0.25 g of Microcapsules/spheres A681-31-1, which contained a 45.25 mg ampicillin reservoir per wound, maintained a serum ampicillin level of 8.0±7.3 microgram/milliliter for up to 4 days post-treatment. A dose twice that amount (90.50 mg ampicillin equivalent) maintained detectable serum ampicillin for up to 7 days post-treatment at a serum ampicillin concentration of 15.95±5.0 microgram/milliliter for the first 4 days. Serum ampicillin was not detected in animals whose wounds were treated with microcapsule/sphere doses containing an ampicillin equivalent of 28.50 mg or less. Even though serum ampicillin was not detected in any animal at 14 days, the tissue levels at this time were above the minimal inhibitory concentrations required to kill both infecting organisms in all animals treated with microencapsulated ampicillin anhydrate. This was true with microcapsule/sphere doses as low as 0.05 gram per wound. Even though serum ampicillin was not detected, microbial bioassay for ampicillin in tissue removed from wounds treated with 0.05 gram of microcapsules/spheres (A681-31-1) contained a mean (n=5) ampicillin level of 54, 70, and 21 micrograms/gram of tissue at 2, 7, and 14 days, respectively. Because the minimal inhibitory concentrations of ampicillin required to kill 95 of Staphylococcus aureus and 97 pyogenes is 0.5 and 0.05 micrograms/milliliter, respectively, it is a reasonable assumption that a more than adequate therapeutic amount of drug was present at the wound site throughout the two-week treatment period.

In vitro release studies performed on microcapsules/spheres formulated with 70:30 DL-PLG (A382-140-1 and A681-31-1) showed drug release at an efficacious rate over two weeks, but also at a slower rate for an additional 50 days. The continued release of low amounts of antibiotic in wounds after two to three weeks is undesirable because of the potential to provide favorable conditions for the emergence of ampicillin resistant organisms in wounds which might harbor small numbers or bacteria. Therefore, to reduce or eliminate drug trailing, microcapsulesispheres were reformulated by encapsulating ampicillin anhydrate within the faster biodegrading polymer 53:47, DL-PLG (sample B213-66-1S), in vitro release profiles showed a release of 85 to 92 within two weeks on the seventh day following treatment of wounds with 0.15 gram of Microcapsules/spheres B213-66-1S, a mean (n=5) of 162.5 g of ampicillin per gram of tissue was quantitated. In vitro release studies suggest that this amount drops rapidly in the second week so that by 14 days marginal killing concentrations are present. In vivo analysis of tissue removed from wounds treated 15 days previously with 0.25 gram of these microcapsules/spheres contained <1.9 micrograms/gram of ampicillin per gram. Although <0.22 micrograms/gram of ampicillin was detected in wounds treated with 0.15 gram, it was unusual to detect any ampicillin at 14 days in tissue from wounds treated with 0.05 gram per wound. At 21 days post-treatment, ampicillin was not detected in any of the wounds.

No serum levels of ampicillin were detected in any of the rats treated with Microcapsules/spheres B213-66-1S. This was expected because lower doses (ampicillin equivalent) were administered. (Table 1).

B. Cefazolin (CZ) microspheres. The CZ microspheres used in these studies were produced by Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, Ala. The microspheres consisted of 77.8 weight % copolymer (50:50 molar ratio of lactide to glycolide) with a core leading dose of 22.2 weight % cefazolin. The size of the microspheres ranged from 90 to 355 um in diameter and they were sterilized with 2.7 Mrad of gamma radiation. In vitro release kinetic studies showed that approximately 20% of the cefazolin was released from the microspheres within 6 hours, with the remainder of antibiotic release extending over a period of 15 days.

Rat wound infection model. Experimental wounds were surgically created in the paraspinous muscles of Sprague-Dawley rats following induction of anesthesia with ketamine and xylazine. Sterile sand (100 mg) was implanted into the wound site to simulate a foreign body and the wounds were inoculated with 5×10⁶ CFU each of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 27660 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of cefazolin for each of these organisms was 4 ug/ml and 2 ug/ml, respectively. The animals were then randomly distributed in 6 groups. Groups A, B, and C (6 rats per group) received local antibiotic therapy with 50 mg, 250 mg, or 500 mg of CZ microspheres, respectively. The microspheres were applied directly to the wounds and care was taken to achieve a relatively uniform distribution of the drug throughout the wound site. Group D (6 rats) received local antibiotic therapy with 110 mg of CZ powder. This dose was equivalent to the core-loading dose of cefazolin contained in 500 mg of CZ microspheres used to treat the Group C animals. Group E (6 rats) received systemic antibiotic therapy with cefazolin (30 mg/kg) which was administered as a single intramuscular bolus immediately after bacterial contamination of the wounds. Group F (3 rats) served as controls and received no antibiotic therapy. The wounds were then closed with surgical staples and the animals were returned to their cages. On postoperative day #28, the rats were euthanized and tissue was obtained from each wound for quantitation of surviving bacteria. The tissue was weighed, homogenized, and serial 10-fold dilutions were prepared and plated on blood agar. The number of bacteria recovered from each wound was quantitated and expressed as CFFU/g tissue.

Rabbit fracture-fixation model. This study was conducted in two segments and was designed to evaluate the effect of early as well as delayed local antibiotic therapy for the prevention of infection in experimental fractures. In segment I, open fractures were created in the right tibiae of New Zealand White rabbits after induction of anesthesia with ketamine and xylazine. The fractures were then inoculated with 0.5 ml of S. aureus ATCC 27660 (2.0×10⁷ CFU/ml). Within 30 minutes following bacterial contamination, the animals were randomly distributed in 5 groups. Group A (8 rabbits) received local antibiotic therapy with 300 mg of cefazolin microspheres which was applied directly to the fracture site and the deep musculature. Group B (8 rabbits) received local antibiotic therapy with an equivalent dose of CZ powder. Group C (8 rabbits) received systemic antibiotic therapy with cefazolin (25 mg/kg/day) for 7 days. Groups D and E (4 rabbits per group) served as controls and received either local application of placebo microspheres (without cefazolin) or no treatment, respectively. The fractures were then reduced and plated with a 4-hole dynamic compression plate. Immediately prior to wound closure, animals in Groups A and B received an additional dose of either CZ microspheres (300 mg) or an equivalent dose of CZ powder, respectively, which was applied directly over the fixation plates and the periosteal tissue. The wounds were then, repaired with sutures and the animals were returned to their cages. Blood was obtained within 1 hour and again at 24 hours after treatment from all Group A and B animals for quantitation of serum cefazolin levels which was measured by a microbial inhibition bioassay⁹. Eight weeks later, all surviving animals were euthanized and the tibiae were harvested for bacteriological analysis, the bones were crushed to small pieces with sterile mortar and pestle and saline was added to make a particulate suspension. Serial dilutions were then prepared and streaked on blood agar for bacterial isolation. The number of S. aureus colonies recovered from each specimen was quantitated and expressed as CFU/g of bone.

In segment II, fractures were created in the right tibia of 29 rabbits and contaminated with S. aureus as described above. After a 2 hour delay, the animals were randomly distributed in 3 groups. Group A (10 rabbits) received local antibiotic therapy with 600 mg of CZ microspheres. Group B (10 rabbits) received local antibiotic therapy with an equivalent dose of CZ powder. Group C (9 rabbits) served as controls and received no treatment. The fractures were then reduced, plated, and the wounds were closed with sutures. Eight weeks later, the surviving animals were euthanized and the tibiae were harvested and processed for isolation of bacteria as described above.

Results

Rat wound infection model. Table 5 shows the effect of local versus systemic cefazolin therapy on the contamination rate in rat soft-tissue wounds at 28 days postinfection. Local antibiotic therapy with CZ microspheres, in doses ranging from 50 to 500 mg per wound, was highly effective for eliminating both organisms from the wounds. The maximum effect was achieved in the Group C animals who received the highest dose of CZ microspheres (500 mg) where E. coli and S. aureus were eliminated from 100% of the wounds. Even at the lowest dose used (50 mg/wound), 4 of 6 wounds were rendered completely sterile. Local antibiotic therapy with free CZ powder sterilized the wounds in 5 of 6 (83%) animals. In contrast, systemic administration of cefazolin (30 mg/kg failed to sterilize the wounds in any of the 6 Group E animals tested.

Rabbit fracture fixation model. Table 6 shows the results of the clinical and bacteriological findings at 8 weeks in 25 surviving rabbits when local or systemic antibiotic therapy with cefazolin was initiated within 30 minutes following bacterial contamination of the fractures. Deep infection, defined as the presence of pus on the fixation plate or in the deep tissues, was noted in 6 of the 7 (86%) control animals in Group D (placebo microspheres) and group E (no treatment). Cultures of the tibiae from all 7 controls were positive for S. aureus. Of the 5 surviving Group animals who received a 1 week course of systemic cefazolin therapy, deep infection was noted in 3 cases and S. aureus was recovered from the bones of 4 of the 5 animals. In contrast, no clinical evidence of infection was detected in any of the 7 Group A animals who received an equivalent local dose of free CZ powder. Cultures of the tibiae were sterile in 6 of (86%) Group A and 5 of 6 (83%) Group B animals, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean log S. aureus counts of the Group A and Group B animals and all other groups by analysis of variance (p<0.05). The mean log S. aureus counts for Group C was also significantly different from all groups with the exception of Group E (no treatment).

Table 7 shows the results of the clinical and bacteriological findings at 8 weeks in 23 surviving rabbits when local antibiotic therapy was delayed for 2 hours following bacterial contamination of the fractures. Clinical evidence of infection was present in 5 of 7 (71% control animals in Group C and cultures of the tibiae yielded S. aureus in all 7 cases. Of the 8 animals in Group B who received local antibiotic therapy with Cz powder, deep infection was noted in 4 animals and S. aureus was received in 6 of 8 (75%) cases. In contrast, none of the 8 animals in Group Aa (CZ microspheres) developed clinical infections and cultures of the tibiae were sterile in all cases. One way analysis of variance showed a statistically significant difference in the mean log S. aureus counts between Groups A and B (p=0.0014); Groups A and C (p<0.0001); and Groups B and C (p=0.0269).

References

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Applicants have developed microencapsulated antibiotics for the local treatment of contaminated surgical and traumatic wounds. Preliminary studies have shown that local application of biodegradable antibiotic microspheres to experimental wounds that were contaminated with resistant bacteria was extremely effective for prevention of wound infection. This success is attributed to the significantly higher local tissue antibiotic levels that can be achieved at the wound site with direct local application of microencapsulated antibiotics as compared to conventional systemic antibiotic dosing. The findings of the experimental studies are summarized below:

1. Ampicillin microspheres effectively prevented infection in 8/11 (73%) animals whose wounds were inoculated with an ampicillin-resistant strain of s. aureus (MIC=750 ug/ml). Systemic ampicillin failed in 9/9 (100%) cases.

2. Cefazolin microspheres effectively prevented infection in 5/6 (83%) animals whose wounds were inoculated with a methicillin-resistant strain of S. aureus which was also resistant to cefazolin (MIC=64 ug/ml). Systemic cefazolin failed in 5/6 (83%) cases.

3. It is preferred that a initial release (burst) of the encapsulated antibiotic occur within the first day and the remaining antibiotic be released over the next 2 to 3 weeks.

Experimental Design for Rat Soft-tissue Wound Infection Model

Experimental surgical wounds were created in the paraspinous muscle of anesthetized Sprague Dawley rats, each weighing between 450 to 550 grams. The wounds were then contaminated with 100 mg of sterile sand as an infection-potentiating agent. The wounds were then inoculated with 5×10⁶ CFU of S. aureus ATCC 33593. This is a methicillin-resistant strain of S. aureus which is also resistant to cefazolin (MIC=64 ug/ml). The animals were then assigned to the following treatment groups:

Group A (n=6): 500 mg of cefazolin (CZ) microspheres was applied directly to the wounds. This dose contained 110 mg of cefazolin equivalent.

Group B (n=6): 110 mg of free CZ powder was applied directly to the wounds.

Group C (n=6): This group received intramuscular injections of CZ (30 mg/kg/day) at 8 hour intervals for 7 consecutive days.

Group D (n=3): This group serves as controls and did not receive any antibiotic therapy.

The wounds were then closed with surgical staples and the animals were returned to their cages for the next 5 weeks. At that time, the animals were humanely euthanized and tissue was removed from the wounds and cultured for the presence of bacteria. The bacteriological data are presented in Table 8.

VIII. Utility

Successful controlled release of bioactive ampicillin anhydrate was achieved in vitro and in vivo. The prototype microcapsules/spheres effectively controlled or eliminated Staphylococcus aureus and Steptococcus Pyocenes from infected wounds in rats. Additionally, the formulation would be effective in the treatment of all bacterial infections caused by organisms sensitive to the antibiotic encapsulated including but not limited to Enterobacteriaceae; Klebsiella sp.; Bacteroides sp.; Enterococci; Proteus sp.; Streptococcus sp.; Staphylococcus sp.; Pseudomonas sp.; Neisseria sp.; Pedptostreptococcus sp.; Fusobacterium sp.; Actinomyces sp.; Mycobacterium sp.; Listeria sp; Corynebacterium sp.; Proprionibacterium sp.; Actinobacillus sp.; Aerobacter sp.; Borrelia sp.; Campylobacter sp.; Cytophaga sp.; Pasteurella sp.; Clostridium sp.; Enterobacter aerogenes; Peptococcus sp.; Proteus vulgaris; Proteus moragnii; Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus polygenes; Actinomyces sp.; Campylobacter fetus; and Legionella pneumophila. Results indicate that optimal microcapsules/spheres should exhibit a programmed release of an appropriate concentration of antibiotic over about a day 14 day to about a 6 week time period after which time the microcapsule/sphere should biodegrade, leaving no trace of drug or excipient.

Phase II

This illistrative phase of this invention relates to a novel pharmaceutical composition, a microcapsule/sphere formulation, may contain a pharmaceutically-acceptable adjuvant that comprises an antigen encapsulated within a biodegradable polymeric matrix such as poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (DL-PLG), wherein the relative ratio between the lactide and glycolide component of the DL-PLG is within the range of 90:10 to 0:100, and its use, as a vaccine, in the effective pretreatment of animals (including humans) to prevent intestinal infections caused by a virus or bacteria. In the practice of this invention, applicants found that the AF/R1 adherence factor is a plasmid encoded pilus composed of repeating pilin protein subunits that allows E. coli RDEC-1 to attach to rabbit intestinal bush borders. To identify an approach that enhances the immunogenicity of antigens that contact the intestinal mucosa, applicants investigated the effect of homogeneously dispersing AF/R1 pili within biodegradable microspheres that included a size range selected for Peyer's Patch localization. New Zealand White rabbits were primed twice with 50 micrograms of either microencapsulated or nonencapsulated AF/R1 by endoscopic intraduodenal inoculation. Lymphoid tissues were removed and cellular proliferative responses to AF/R1 and synthetic AF/R1 peptides were measured in vitro. The synthetic peptides represented possible T and/or B cell epitopes which were selected from the AF/R1 subunit sequence using theoretical criteria. In rabbits which had received nonencapsulated AF/R1, Peyer's Patch cells demonstrated slight but significant proliferation in vitro in response to AF/R1 pili but not the AF/R1 synthetic peptides. In rabbits which had recieved microencapsulated AF/R1, Peyer's Patch cells demonstrated a markedly enhanced response to AF/R1 and the synthetic peptides. Cells from the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes responded similarly to AF/R1 pill in both groups of animals, while there was a greater response to the synthetic peptide AF/R1 40-55 in rabbits that had received microencapsulated AF/R1. These data demonstrate that microencapsulation of AF/R1 potentiates the mucosal cellular immune response to both the native protein and its linear peptide antigens.

A primary mucosal immune response, characterized by antipilus IgA, follows infection of rabbits with E. coli RDEC-1. However, induction of an optimal primary mucosal response by enteral vaccination with pilus antigen depends on immunogenicity of pilus protein, as well as such factors as its ability to survive gastrointestinal tract (GI) transit and to target immunoresponsive tissue. We tested the effect of incorporating AF/R1 pilus antigen into resorbable microspheres upon its ability to induce primary mucosal and systemic antibody responses after direct inoculation into the GI tract. METHODS: rabbits were inoculated with 50 micrograms of AF/R1 pilus antigen alone or incorporated into uniformaly sized (5-10 microns) resorbably microspheres (MIC) of poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide). Inoculation was by intra-duodenal (ID) intubation via endoscopy or directly into the ileum near a Peyer's patch via the RITARD procedure (with the cecum ligated to enhance recovery of gut secretions and a reversible ileal tie to slow antigen clearance). ID rabbits were sacrificed at 2 weeks for collection of gut washes and serum. RITARD rabbits were bled and purged weekly for 3 weeks with Co-lyte to obtain gut secretions. Anti-pilus IgA and IgG were measured by ELISA.

TABLE 9 ID- RESULTS:*pos/test RITARD-PILI RITARD-MIC ID-PILI MIC Anti-pilus IgA (fluid) *7/8 4/8 1/2 0/3 Anti-pilus IgG (serum)  0/8 3/8 0/2 1/3

Native pilus antigen led to a mucosal IgA response in 7/8 RITARD 4 rabbits. MIC caused a similar response in only 4/8, but the groups were not statistically different. MIC (but not pili) induced some systemic IgG responses (highest in animals without mucosal responses). Results in rabbits inoculated ID were similar for pili, but no mucosal response to ID-MIC was noted. SUMMARY: Inoculation with pilus antigen produces a primary mucosal IgA response. Microencapsulation does not enhance this response, although the antigen remains immunogenic as shown by measurable mucosal and some strong serum responses. It must be determined whether priming with antigen in microspheres can enhance secondary responses.

B Cell Epitope Data Materials and Methods

CFA/I PURIICATION-INTACT CFA/I pili were purified from H10407 (078: H-) as described by Hall et al, (1989) [20]. Briefly, bacteria grown on colonization factor antigen agar were subjected to shearing, with the shearate subjected to differential centrifugation and isopycnic banding on cesium chloride in the presence of N-lauryl sarkosine. CFA/I were dissociated to free subunits in 6M guanididinium HCl, 0.2 M ammonium bicarbonate (2 hr, 25°), passed through an ultrafiltration membrane (Amicon XM 50 stirred cell, Danvers, Mass.), with concentration and buffer exchange to PBS on a YM 10 stirred cell (Amicon). Examination of dissociated pili by electron microscopy demonstrated a lack of pilus structure.

Protein Sequencing—The primary structure of CFA/I has been determined by protein sequencing techniques (Klemm, 1982) and through molecular cloning methods (Karjalainen, et al 1989) [21]. In these two studies there was agreement in all but two of the 147 amino acid residues (at positions 53 and 74). To resolve the apparent discrepancies, CFA/I was enzymatically digested in order to obtain internal amino acid sequence. Trypsin or S. aureus V8 protease (sequencing grade, Boehringer Mannheim) was incubated with CFA/I at a 1:50 w:w ratio (Tris 50 mM, 0.1% SDS, pH 8.5 for 16 h at 37° (trypsin) or 24° C. (V8)). Digested material was loaded onto precast 16% tricine SDS-PAGE gels (Schagger and von Jagow, 1987) (Novex, Encinitis, Calif.) and run following manufacturers instructions. Separated samples were electrophoretically transferred to PVDF membranes (Westrans, Schleicher and Schuell, Keene, N.H.) following Matsiduria (1987) using the Novex miniblot apparatus. Blotted proteins were stained with Rapid Coomassie stain (Diversified Biotech, Newton Centre, Mass.). To obtain the desired fragment containing the residue of interest within a region accessible by automated gas phase sequencing techniques, molecular weights were estimated from standards of molecular weights 20,400 to 2,512 (trypsin inhibitior, myoglobin, and myoglobin cyanogen bromide fragments; Diversified Biotech) using the corrected molecular weights for the myoglobin fragments as given in Kratzin et al., (1989) [22]. The estimated molecular weights for the unknown CFA/I fragments were compared to calculated molecular weights of fragments as predicted for CFA/I from the sequence of CFA/I as analysed by the PEPTlDESORT program of a package developed by the University of Wisconsin Genetics Computer Group. Selected fragments were cut from the PVDF emebmane and subjected to gas phase sequencing (Applied Biosystem 470, Foster City, Calif.).

Monkey Immunization—Three rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were injected intramuscularly with 250 ug of dissociated CFA/I in complete Freund's adjuvent and subsequently with two injections of 250 ug of antgen in incomplete Freund's adjuvent at weekly intervals. Blood was drawn three weeks after primary immunization.

Peptide Synthesis—Continuous overlapping octapeptides spanning the entire sequence CFA/I were synthesized onto polyethylene pins by the method of Geysen et al. [16], also known as the PEPSCAN procedure. Derivitized pins and software were purchased from Cambridge Research Biochemicals (Valley Stream, N.Y.). Fmoc-amino acid pentafluorophenyl esters were purchased from Peninsular Laboratories (Belmont, Calif.), 1-hydroxybenzotriazole monohydrate (HYBT) was purchased from Aldrich, and reagent grade solvents from Fisher. To span the entire sequence of CFA/I with a single amino acid overlap of from one peptide to the next, 140 total pins were necessary, with a second complete set of 140 pins synthesized simultaneously.

ELISA procedure—Sera raised in monkeys to purified dissociated pili were incubated with the pins in the capture ELISA assay of Geysen et al., [16] with the preimmune sera of the same animal tested at the same dilution simultaneously with the duplicate set of pins. Dilution of sera used on the pins was chosen by initial titration of sera by standard ELISA assay and immunodot blot assay against the same antigen.

Results

It was essential to utilize the correct sequence of CFA/I in the synthesis of the pins for both T- and B-cell experiments to carry out the studies as planned. At issue were the amino acids at position 53 and 74; incorrect residues at those positions would effect 36 of 138 pins (26%) for T-cell epitope analysis and 30 of 140 pins (21%) for B-cell analysis. To resolve the discrepancy in the literature, purified CFA/I was proteolytically digested separately with trypsin and with S. aureus V8 protease (V8). These enzymes were chosen in order to give fragments with the residues of interest (53 and 74) relatively near to the N-terminus for automated Edman degradation (preferably 1-15 residues). These digests were separated on tricine SDS-PAGE gels (FIG. 24A) and molecular masses of fragments estimated. A fragment of 3459 calculated molecular mass is expected from the trypsin digest (corresponding to amino acids 62-94) and a fragment of 5889 calculated molecular mass is expected from the V8 digest (residues 42-95). These fragments were located within each digest (arrows in FIG. 24), and a companion gel with four lanes of each digest was run, electrophoreticaly transferred to PVDF, the bands excised and sequenced. N-terminal sequences of each fragment are given in FIG. 24B. The N-terminal eighteen residues from the trypsin fragment were determined that corresponded to positions 62-79 in CFA/I. Position 74, a serine residue was consistent with that determined by Kajalainen et al., (Karjalainen et al., 1989). Nineteen residues of the V8 fragment were determined, corresponding to residues 41-60 of the parent protein. The twelfth residue of the fragment contained an aspartic acid, also consistent with Karjalainen et al., (1989). All other residues sequenced were consistent with those published previously (including residues 1-29, not shown). For the following peptide synthesis were therefore utilized the complete amino acid sequence of CFA/I consistent with Karjalainen et al., (1989).

Sera from monkeys immunized with CFA/I subunits were tested in a modified ELISA assay, with the preimmunization sera tested simultaneously with duplicate pins. Assays results are displayed in FIG. 25. Monkey 2Z2 (FIG. 2A) responded strongly to six regions of the CFA/I sequence. Peptide 14 (the octapeptide 14-21) gave the strongest response with four pins adjacent to it (11, 12, 13, and 15) also appearing to bind significant antibody. The other 2Z2 epitopes are centered at peptides 3, 22, 33, 93, and 124. Monkey 184D (FIG. 17B) also responded strongly to peptide 14, although the maximum response was to peptide 13, with strong involvement of peptide 12 in the epitope. Additional epitopes recognized by 184d were centered at peptides 22, 33, 66, and 93. The third monkey serum tested, 34, responded to this region of the CFA/I primary structure, both at peptides 1, 12 and weakly at 14. Two other epitopes were identified by 34, centered at peptides 67 and 128. FIG. 26 illustrates the amino acids corresponding to the epitopes of CFA/I as defined by the response of these three monkeys aligned with the entire primary structure. The entire antigenic determinants are mapped and areas of overlap criteria published by Rothbard and Taylor [7]. The sequence numbers of the first amino acid of the predicted segments are shown in Table 1.

Lymphocyte proliferation of monkey spleen cells to CFA/I synthetic peptides. To determine which segments of the CFA/I protein are able to stimulate proliferation of CFA/I immune primate lymphocytes in vitro, three Rhesus monkeys were immunized with CF/I subunits, and their splenic lymphocytes were cultured with synthetic overlapping decapeptides which represented the entire CFA/I sequence. Concentrations of peptides used as antigen were 6.0, 0.6, and 0.6 ug/ml. Proliferative responses to the decapeptides were observed in each of the three monkeys (FIG. 9-11. The majority of the responses occurred at the 0.6 and 0.06 ug/ml concentrations of antigen and within distinct regions of the protein (peptides beginning with residues 8-40, 70-80, and 27-137). A comparison of the responses at the 6.0, 0.6 and 0.06 ug/ml concentrations antigenic peptide for one monkey (2&2) are shown (FIG. 12-14. Taking into account all concentrations of antigen tested, spleen cells from monkey 184D demonstrated a statistically significant response to decapeptides beginning with CFA/I amino acid residues 3, 4, 8, 18 12, 15, 21, 26, 28, 33, 88, 102, 10, 133, 134, and 136 (FIG. 27. Monkey 34 had a significant response to decapeptides beginning with residues 24, 31, 40, 48, 71, 72, 77, 78, 80, 87, and 102, 126 and 133 (FIG. 28); monkey 2Z2 responded to decapeptides which began with residues 4, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 27, 35, 73, 79, 18, 127, 129, 132, and 133 (FIG. 27). Peptides beginning with amino acid residues 3 through 2 were synthesized with either a glutamic acid or an asagine substituted for the aspartic acid residue at position twelve to prevent truncated peptides. The observed responses to peptides beginning with residue 8 (monkey 184d), and residues 9, 11, 12 (monkey 2Z2) occurred in response to peptides that had the glutaric acid substitution. However, the observed responses to peptides beginning with residue 3, 4, and 12 (monkey 184D), a well as residue 4 (monkey 2Z2) occurred in response to peptides that had the asparagine substitution. Monkey 34 did not respond to any of the peptides that had the substitution at position twelve. All other responses shown were to the natural amino acid sequence of the CFA/I protein. Statistical significance was determined by comparing the cpm of quadruplicate wells cultured with the CFA/I peptides to the cpm of wells cultured with the CFA/I peptides to the cpm of wells cultured with a control peptide.

Analysis of decapeptides that supported proliferation of lymphocytes from CFA/I immune animals. Of the 39 different peptides that supported proliferative responses, thirty contained a serine residue, 19 contained a serine at either position 2, 3, or 4, and nine had a serine specifically at position 3. Some of the most robust responses were to the peptides that contained a serine residue at the third position. The amino acid sequence of four such peptides is shown in Table 3.

VII. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Applicants have discovered efficacious pharmaceutical compositions wherein the relative amounts of antigen to the polymeric matrix are within the ranges of 0.1 to 1.5% antigen (core loading) and 99.9 to 98.5% polymer, respectively. It is preferred that the relative ratio between the lactide and glycolide component of the poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (DL-PLG) is within the range of 90:10 into 0:100. However, it is understood that effective core loads for certain antigens will be influenced by its microscopic form (i.e. bacteria, protozoa, viruses or fungi) and type of infection being prevented. From a biological perspective, the DL-PLG or glycolide monomer excipient are well suited for in vitro drug (antigen) release because they elicit a minimal inflamatory response, are biologically compatible, and degrades under physiologic conditions to products that are nontoxic and readily metabolized.

Surprisingly, applicants have discovered an extremely effective method for the protection against bacterial or viral infections in the tissue of a mammal (human or nonhuman animal) caused by enteropathogenic organisms comprising administering orally to said animal an immunogenic amount of a pharmaceutical composition consisting essentially of an antigen encapsulated within a biodegradable polymeric matrix. When the polymeric matrix is DL-PLG, the most preferred relative ratio between the lactide and glycolide component is within the range of 48:52 to52:48. The bacterial infection can be caused by bacteria (including any derivative thereof) which include Salmonella typhi, Shigella sonnei, Shigella flexneri, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella boydii, Escheria coli, Vibro cholera, yersinia, staphyloccus, clostridium and campylobacter. Representative viruses contemplated within the scope of this invention, susceptible to treatment with the above-described pharmaceutical compositions, are quite extensive. For purposes of illustration, a partial listing of these viruses (including any derivative thereof) include hepatitis A, hepatitus B, rotaviruses, polio virus human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV), Herpes Simplex virus type 1 (cold sores), Herpes Simplex virus type 2 (Herpesirus genitalis), Varicella-zoster virus (chicken pox, shingles), Epstein-Barr virus (infectious mononucleosis; glandular fever; and Burkittis lymphoma), and cytomegalo viruses.

A further representation description of the instant invention is as follows:

-   -   A. (1) To homogeneously disperse antigens of enteropathic         organisms within the polymeric matrix of biocompatible and         biodegradable microspheres, 1 nanogram (ng) to 12 microns in         diameter, utilizing equal molar parts of polymerized lactide and         glycolide (50:50 DL-PLG, i.e. 48:52 to 52:48 DL-PLG) such that         the core load is within the range of about 0.1 to 1.5% by         volume. The microspheres containing the dispered antigen can         then be used to immunize the intestine to produce a humoral         immune response composed of secretory antibody, serum antibody         and a cellular immune response consisting of specific T-cells         and B-cells. The immune response is directed against the         dispered antigen and will give protective immunity against the         pathogenic organism from which the antigen was derived.     -   (2) AF/R1 pilus protein is an adherence factor that allows E.         coli RDEC-1 to attach to rabbit intestinal brush borders thus         promoting colonization resulting in diarrhea. AF/R1 pilus         protein was homogeneously dispered within a polymeric matrix of         biocompatible and biodegradable microspheres, 1-12 microns in         diameter (FIG. 9 and photograph 1) using equal molar parts of         polymerized lactide and glycolide (50:50 DL-PLG) such that the         core load was 0.62% by weight.     -   (3) The microspheres were found to contain immunogenic AF/R1 by         immunizing both rabbit spleen (FIG. 1) and Peyer's patch         (FIG. 3) B-cells in vitro. The resultant cell supernatants         contained specific IgM antibody which recognized the AF/R1. The         antibody response was comparable to immunizing with AF/R1 alone.     -   (4) Microspheres containing 50 micrograms of AF/R1 were used to         intraintestinally (intraduodenally) immunize rabbits on two         separate occasions 1 week apart. One week later, compared to         rabbits receiving AF/R1 alone, the intestinal lymphoid tissue,         Peyer's patches, demonstrated an enhanced cellular immune         response to AF/R1 and to three AF/R1 linear peptide fragments         40-55, 79-94 and 108-123 by both lymphocyte transformation         (T-cells) (FIGS. 12 and 13 and antibody producing B-cells (FIGS.         14 and 15. Similarly enhanced B-cell responses were also         detected in the spleen (FIGS. 16 and 17). An enhanced T-cell         response was also detected in the mesenteric lymph node and the         spleen to one AF/R1 peptide fragment, 40-55 (FIGS. 18 and 19).         The cellular immune response at two weeks was too early for         either a serum or secretory antibody response (See Results in         Table 1); but indicates that a secretory antibody response will         develop such that the rabbits so immunized could be protected         upon challenge with the E. coli RDEC-1.     -   B. Microspheres do not have to be made up just prior to use as         with liposomes. Also liposomes have not been effective in         rabbits for intestinal immunization of lipopolysaccharide         antigens.     -   C. (1) Only a small amount of antigen is required (ugs) when         dispersed within microspheres compared to larger amounts (mgms)         when antigen is used alone for intestinal immunization.     -   (2) Antigen dispersed within microspheres can be used orally for         intestinal immunization whereas antigen alone used orally even         with gastric acid neutralization requires a large amount of         antigen and may not be effective for intestinal immunization.     -   (3) Synthetic peptides with and without attached synthetic         adjuvants representing peptide fragments of protein antigens can         also be dispersed within microspheres for oral-intestinal         immunization. Free peptides would be destroyed by digestive         processes at the level of the stomach and intestine. Any         surviving peptide would probably not be taken up by the         intestine and therefore be ineffective for intestinal         immunization.     -   (4) Microspheres containing antigen maybe placed into         gelatin-like capsules for oral administration and intestinal         release for improved intestinal immunization.     -   (5) Microspheres promote antigen uptake from the intestine and         the development of cellular immune (T-cell and B-Cell) responses         to antigen components such as linear peptide fragments of         protein antigens.     -   (6) The development of intestinal T-cell responses to antigens         dispersed within microspheres indicate that T-cell immunological         memory will be established leading to long-lived intestinal         immunity. This long-lived intestinal immunity (T-cell) is very         difficult to establish by previous means of intestinal         immunization. Failure to establish long-lived intestinal         immunity is a fundamental difficulty for intestinal immunization         with non-viable antigens. Without intestinal long-lived immunity         only a short lived secretory antibody response is established         lasting a few weeks after which no significant immunological         protection may remain.     -   D. (1) Oral intestinal immunization of rabbits against E. coli         RDEC-1 infection using either whole killed organisms, pilus         protein preparations or lipopolysaccharide preparations.     -   (2) Microspheres containing adherence pilus protein AF/R1 or its         antigen peptides for oral intestinal immunization of rabbits         against RDEC-1 infection.     -   (3) Oral-intestinal immunization of humans against         enterotoxigenic E. coli infection using either whole killed         organisms, pilus protein preparations or lipopolysaccharide         preparations.     -   (4) Microspheres containing adherence pilus proteins CFA/I, II,         III and IV or their antigen peptides for oral intestinal         immunization of humans against human enterotoxigenic E. coli         infections.     -   (5) Oral-intestinal immunization of humans against other enteric         pathogens as salmonella, shigella, camphlobacter, hepatitis-A         virus, rota virus and polio virus.     -   (6) Oral-intestinal immunization of animals and humans for         mucosal immunological protection at distal mucosal sites as the         bronchial tree in lungs, genito-urinary tract and breast tissue.     -   E. (1) The biocompatible, biodegradable co-polymer has a long         history of being safe for use in humans since it is the same one         used in resorbable suture material.     -   (2) By using the microspheres we are now able to immunize the         intestine of animals and man with antigens not normally         immunogenic for the intestinal mucosa because they are either         destroyed in the intestine, unable to be taker up by the         intestinal mucosa or only weakly immunogenic if taken up.     -   (3) Establishing long-lived immunological memory in the         intestine is now possible because T-cells are immunized using         microspheres.     -   (4) Antigens that can be dispersed into microspheres for         intestinal immunization include the following: proteins,         glycoporteins, synthetic peptides, carbohydrates, synthetic         polysaccharides, lipids, glycolipids, lipopolysaccharides (LPS),         synthetic lipopolysaccharides and with and without attached         adjuvants such as synthetic muramyl dipeptide derivatives.     -   (5) The subsequent immune response can be directed to either         systemic (spleen and serum antibody) or local (intestine,         Peyer's patch) by the size of the microspheres used for the         intestinal immunization. Microspheres 5-10 microns in diameter         remain within macrophage cells at the level of the Peyer's patch         in the intestine and lead to a local intestinal immune response.         Microspheres 1 ng-5 microns in diameter leave the Peyer's patch         contained within macrophages and migrate to the mesenteric lymph         node and to the spleen resulting in a systemic (serum antibody)         immune response.     -   (6) or systemic antibody mediated adverse reactions because of         preexisting antibody especially cytophyllic or IgE antibody may         be minimized or eliminated by using microspheres because of         their being phagocytized by macrophages and the antigen is only         available as being attached to the cell surface and not free.         Only the free antigen could become attached to specific IgE         antibody bound to the surface of mast cells resulting in mast         cell release of bioactive amines necessary for either local or         systemic anaphylaxis.     -   (7) Immunization with microspheres containing antigen leads to         primarily IgA and IgG antibody responses rather than an IgE         antibody response, thus preventing subsequent adverse IgE         antibody reactions upon reexposure to the antigen.

In addition to the above, the encapsulation of the following synthetic peptides are contemplated and considered to be well within the scope of this invention:

-   -   (1) AF/R1 40-55;     -   (2) AF/R1 79-94;     -   (3) AF/R1 108-123;     -   (4) AF/R1 1-13;     -   (5) AF/R1 pepscan 16AA;     -   (6) CFA/I 1-13; and     -   (7) CFA/I pepscan 16AA.     -   (8) Synthetic Pepetides Containing CFA/I Pilus Protein T-cell         Epitopes (Starting Sequence # given)     -   4(Asn-Ile-Thr-Val-Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro) (SEQ ID NO: 8),     -   8(Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu) (SEQ ID NO: 9),     -   12(Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ ID NO: 10),     -   15(Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp-Gly-Asn-Ala) (SEQ ID NO: 11),     -   20(Ala-Asp-Gly-Asn-Ala-Leu-Pro-Ser-Ala-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 12)     -   26(Pro-Ser-Ala-Val-Lys-Leu-Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pro) (SEQ ID NO: 13),     -   72(Leu-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Gln-Met-Pro-Ile-Ser) (SEQ ID NO: 14),     -   78(Met-Pro-Ile-Ser-Val-Ser-Trp-Gly-Gly-Gln) (SEQ ID NO: 15),     -   87(Gln-Val-Leu-Ser-Thr-Thr-Ala-Lys-Glu-Phe) (SEQ ID NO: 16)     -   126(Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr) (SEQ ID NO: 17),         and     -   133(Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser-Gly-Val-Val-Ser-Leu-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 18),         and mixtures thereof.     -   (9) Synthetic Peptides Containing CFA/I Pilus Protein B-cell         (antibody) Eptiopes (Starting Sequence # given)     -   3(Lys-Asn-Ile-Thr-Val-Thr-Ala-Ser-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 19),     -   11(Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ ID NO: 20),     -   22(Gly-Asn-Ala-Leu-Pro-Ser-Ala-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 32),     -   32(Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pro-Ala-Ser-Lys-Thr-Phe-Lys-Thr-Phe-Glu-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Val)         (SEQ ID NO: 21),     -   32(Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pro-Ala-Ser-Lys-Thr-Phe) (SEQ ID NO: 22),     -   38(Lys-Thr-Phe-Glu-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 23),     -   66(Pro-Gln-Leu-Thr-Asp-Val-Leu-Asn-Ser) (SEQ ID NO: 24),     -   93(Ala-Lys-Glu-Phe-Glu-Ala-Ala-Ala) (SEQ ID NO: 25),     -   124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr) (SEQ ID NO: 26),     -   127(Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID NO: 27),         and 124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser)         (SEQ ID NO: 28), and mixtures thereof.     -   (10) synthetic peptides containing CFA/I pilus protein T-cell         and B-cell (antibody) epitopes (Starting Sequence # given)     -   3(Lys-Asn-Ile-Thr-Val-Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro) (SEQ ID NO: 29),     -   8(Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ         ID NO: 30),     -   11(Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ ID NO: 20),     -   20(Ala-Asp-Gly-Asn-Ala-Leu-Pro-Ser-Ala-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 12),     -   124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID         NO: 28),     -   126(Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID NO:         31), and mixtures thereof.     -   (11) synthetic peptides containing CFA/I pilus protein T-cell         and B-cell (antibody) epitopes (Starting Sequence # given)

CFA/I Pilus Protein T-cell Epitopes

-   -   4(Asn-Ile-Thr-Val-Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro) (SEQ ID NO: 8),     -   8(Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu) (SEQ ID NO: 9),     -   12(Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ ID NO: 10),     -   15(Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp-Gly-Asn-Ala) (SEQ ID NO: 11),     -   20(Ala-Asp-Gly-Asn-Ala-Leu-Pro-Ser-Ala-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 12),     -   26(Pro-Ser-Ala-Val-Lys-Leu-Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pro) (SEQ ID NO: 13),     -   72(Leu-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Gln-Met-Pro-Ile-Ser) (SEQ ID NO: 14),     -   78(Met-Pro-Ile-Ser-Val-Ser-Trp-Gly-Gly-Gln) (SEQ ID NO: 15),     -   87(Gln-Val-Leu-Ser-Thr-Thr-Ala-Lys-Glu-Phe) (SEQ ID NO: 16),     -   126(Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr) (SEQ ID NO: 17),         and     -   133(Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser-Gly-Val-Val-Ser-Leu-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 18);         and synthetic peptides containing CFA/I pilus protein cell         (antibody) epitopes (Starting Sequence # given)

CFA/I Pilus Protein B-cell Epitopes

-   -   3(Lys-Ile-Thr-Val-Thr-Ala-Ser-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 19),     -   11(Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ ID NO: 20),     -   22(Gly-Asn-Ala-Leu-Pro-Ser-Ala-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 32),     -   32(Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pro-Ala-Ser-Lys-Thr-Phe-Lys-Thr-Phe-Glu-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Val)         (SEQ ID NO: 21),     -   32(Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pro-Ala-Ser-Lys-Thr-Phe) (SEQ ID NO: 22),     -   38(Lys-Thr-Phe-Glu-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 23),     -   66(Pro-Gln-Leu-Thr-Asp-Val-Leu-Asn-Ser) (SEQ ID NO: 2),     -   93(Ala-Lys-Glu-Phe-Glu-Ala-Ala-Ala) (SEQ ID NO: 25),     -   124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr) (SEQ ID NO: 26),     -   127(Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID NO: 27),         and     -   124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID         NO: 28), and mixtures thereof.     -   (12) synthetic peptides containing CFA/I pilus protein T-ell and         B-cell (antibody) epitopes (Starting Sequence # given)

CFA/I Pilus Protein T-cell Epitopes

-   -   3(Lys-Asn-Ile-Thr-Val-Thr-Ala-Ser-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 19),     -   11(Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ ID NO: 20),     -   22(Gly-Asn-Ala-Leu-Pro-Ser-Ala-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 32),     -   32(Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pro-Ala-Ser-Lys-Thr-Phe-Lys-Thr-Phe-Glu-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Val)         (SEQ ID NO: 21),     -   32(Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pro-Ala-Ser-Lys-Thr-Phe) (SEQ ID NO: 22),     -   38(Lys-Thr-Phe-Glu-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 23),     -   66(Pro-Gln-Leu-Thr-Asp-Val-Leu-Asn-Ser) (SEQ ID NO: 24),     -   93(Ala-Lys-Glu-Phe-Glu-Ala-Ala-Ala) (SEQ ID NO: 25),     -   124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr) (SEQ ID NO: 26),     -   127(Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID NO: 27),         and     -   124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID         NO: 28), and synthetic peptides containing CFA/I pilus protein         T-cell and B-cell (antibody) epitopes (Starting Sequence #         given)

CFA/I Pilus Protein B-cell Epitopes

-   -   3(Lys-Asn-Ile-Thr-Val-Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro) (SEQ ID NO: 29),     -   8(Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ         ID NO: 30),     -   11(Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp) (SEQ ID NO: 20),     -   20(Ala-Asp-Gly-Asn-Ala-Leu-Pro-Ser-Ala-Val) (SEQ ID NO: 12),     -   124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID         NO: 28),     -   126(Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser) (SEQ ID NO:         31), and mixtures thereof.

We contemplate that the peptides can be used in vaccine constructed for systemic administration.

EXAMPLES

The peptides in (8), (9), and (10) above can be made by classical solution phase synthesis, solid phase synthesis or recombinant DNA technology. These peptides can be incorporated in an oral vaccine to prevent infection by CFA/I bearing enteropathogenic E. coli.

The herein offered examples provide methods for illustrating, without any implied limitation, the practice of this invention in the prevention of diseases caused by enteropathogenic organisms.

The profile of the representative experiments have been chosen to illustrate the effectiveness of the immunogenic polymeric matrix-antigen composites.

All temperatures not otherwise indicated are in degrees Celcius (° C.) and parts or percentages are given by weight.

Materials and Methods

Animals. New Zealand White male rabbits were purchased from Hazelton Research Products (Denver, Pa.), and were shown to be free of current RDEC-1 infection by culture of rectal swabs. Animals were 1-2 kg of body weight and lacked agglutinating anti-AF/R1 serum antibody at the time of the study.

Antigens. AF/R1 pili from E. coli RDEC-1 (015:H:K non-typable) were purified by an ammonium sulfate precipitation method. The final preparation migrated as a single band an SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and was shown to be greater than 95% pure by scanning with. laser densitomery when stained with coomassie blue. Briefly, equal molar parts of DL-lactide and glycolide were polymerized and then dissolved to incorporate AF/R1 into spherical particles. The microspheres contained 0.62% protein by weight and ranged in size from 1 to 12 micrometers. Both the microencapsulated and nonencapsulated AF/R1 were sterilized by gamma irradiation (0.3 megarads) before use.

Synthetic peptides (16 amino acids each) were selected by theoretical criteria from the amino acid sequence of AF/R1 as deduced from the nucLeutide sequence. Three sets of software were used for the selections. Software designed to predict B cell epitopes based on hydrophilicity, flexibility, and other criteria was developed by the University of Wisconsin Genetics Computer Group. Software designed to predict T cell epitopes was based on the Rothbard method was written by Stephen Van Albert (The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, D.C.). Software designed to predict T cell epitopes based on the Berzofsky method is published as the AMPHI program. The selected peptides were synthesized by using conventional Merrifield solid phase technology. AF/R1 40-55 (Thr-Asn-Ala-Gly-Thr-Asp-Ile-Gly-Ala-Asn-Lys-Ser-Phe-Thr-Leu-Lys) (SEQ ID NO: 34) was various dilutions of antigen and were incubated at 37 C in 5% CO₂. In other experiments, cultures were conducted in a 24-well plates. In these experiments, 5×10⁶ cells were cultured with or without antigen in a 2 ml volume. After 4 days, 100 microliters aliquots of cells were transferred to 96-well plates for pulsing and harvesting. Previous experiments have demonstrated that optimal concentrations of antigen range from 150 ng/ml to 15 micrograms/ml in the 96-well plate assay and 1.5 ng/ml to 150 ng/ml in the 24-well plate assay. These were the concentrations employed in the current study. All cultures were pulsed with 1 Ci [³H]thymidine (25 Ci/mmol, Amersham, Arlington Heights, Ill.) on day 4 of culture and were harvested for scintillation counting 6 hours later.

Statistics. All cultures were conducted in replicates of four, and standard deviations of the counts per minute (cpm) generally range from 5-15% of the average cpm. In experiments where comparison of individual animals and groups of animals is desirable, data is shown as a stimulation index (SI) to facilitate the comparison. SI were calculated by dividing the mean of cultures with antigen by the mean of cultures without antigen (media control). Statistical significance (p value) was determined by comparing the maximum response for each antigen to the media control using the Student's t test.

Results

Lymphocyte proliferation in response to protein and peptide antigens of AF/R1. To determine if lymphoid tissues from AF/R1 immune animals respond in vitro to the antigens of AF/R1, the immunity in a rabbit with prexisting high levels of anti-AF/R1 serum IgG was boosted twice by injection of 50 micrograms of purified AF/R1 pili i.p. seven days apart A week after the final boost, in vitro lymphocyte proliferation of spleen and MLN cells demonstrated a remarkable response to AF/R1 pili. In response to the synthetic peptides, there was a small, but significant proliferation of the spleen cells to all the AF/R1 peptides tested as compared to cell cultures without antigen. Cells from the spleen and Peyer's patches of non-immune animals failed to respond to either AF/R1 or the synthetic peptides.

Microencapsulation of AF/R1 potentiates the mucosal cellular immune response. To evaluate the effect that microencapsulation of AF/R1 may have on the cellular mucosal immune response to that antigen, naive rabbits were primed twice with 50 micrograms of either microencapsulated or non-encapsulated AF/R1 by endoscopic intraduodenal inoculation seven days apart. All rabbits were monitored daily and showed no evidence of clinical illness or colonization by RDEC-1. One week following the last priming, the rabbits were sacrificed and lymphoid tissues were cultured in the presence of AF/R1 pili or peptide antigens. In rabbits which had received non-encapsulated AF/R1, Peyer's Patch cells demonstrated a low level but significant proliferation in vitro in response to AF/R1 pili (FIG. 13), but not to any of the AF/R1 synthetic peptides (FIGS. 14 a-d). However, in rabbits which had received microencapsulated AF/R1, Peyer's Patch cells demonstrated a markedly enhanced response not only to AF/R1 (FIG. 13 but now responded to the AF/R1 synthetic peptides 40-55 and 79-94 (FIGS. 14 a and 14 b). In addition, one of two rabbits primed with microencapsulated AF/R1 (rabbit 135) desponded to AF/R1 108-123, but not AF/R1 40-47/79-86 (FIGS. 14 c and 14 d). In contrast, the other rabbit in the group (rabbit 134) responded to AF/R1 40-47/79-86, but not to AF/R1 108-123 (FIGS. 14 d and 14 c).

Response of MLN cells to the antigens of AF/R1. Studies have shown that cells undergoing blastogenesis in the MLN also tend to home into mucosal areas, but experiments requiring in vitro lymphocyte proliferation of rabbit MLN cells are difficult to conduct and to interpret due to non-specific high background cpm in the media controls. Our studies have shown that this problem can be avoided by conducting the proliferative studies in 24-well plates, and then moving aliquots of cells into 96-well plates for pulsing with [³H]thymidine as described in materials and methods. This method of culture was employed for the remainder of the studies. The MLN cells of all rabbits demonstrated a significant proliferation in vitro in response to AF/R1 pili regardless of whether they had been immunized with microencapsulated or nonencapsulated AF/R1. However, only the rabbits which had received microencapsulated AF/R1 were able to respond to the AF/R1 synthetic peptide 40-55 (FIG. 19). The MLN cells of rabbit 134 also responded to AF/R1 79-94 (p<0.0001), AF/R1 108-123 (p<0.0001), and AF/R1 40-47/79-86 (p=0.0004); however, none of the other rabbits demonstrated a MLN response to those three peptides (data not shown).

Response of spleen cells to the antigens of AF/R1. Proliferative responses of spleen cells to AF/R1 were very weak in all animals tested (data not shown). However, in results which paralleled the responses in MLN cells, there was a significant response to AF/R1 40-55 in rabbits which had been primed with microencapsulated AF/R1 (FIG. 20). There was no response to the other AF/R1 synthetic peptides by spleen cells in either group of animals. The weak response of spleen cells to AF/R1 provides further evidence that these animals were naive to AF/R1 before the study began, and indicates that the observed responses were not due to non-specific stimulative factors such as lipopolysaccharide.

Summary

We have shown that there is an enhanced in vitro proliferative response to both protein and its peptide antigens by rabbit Peyer's patch cells following intraduodenal inoculation of antigen which had been homogeneously dispersed into the polymeric matrix of biodegradable, biocompatible microspheres. The immunopotentiating effect of encapsulating purified AF/R1 pili as a mucosal delivery system may be explained by one or more of the following mechanisms: (a) Microencapsulation may help to protect the antigen from degradation by digestive enzymes in the intestinal lumen. (b) Microencapsulation has been found to effectively enhance the delivery of a high concentration of antigen specifically into the Peyer's patch. (c) Once inside the Peyer's patch, microencapsulation appears to facilitate the rapid phagocytosis of the antigen by macrophages, and the microspheres which are 5-10 micrometers become localized within the Peyer's patch. (d) Microencapsulation of the antigen may improve the efficiency of antigen pre- by decreasing the amount of enzymatic degradation that takes place inside the macrophage before the epitopes are protected by combining with Class II major histocompability complex (MHC) molecules. (e) The slow, controlled-release of antigen may produce a depot effect that mimics the retention of antigen by the follicular dendritic cell. (f) If the antigen of interest is soluble, microencapsulation changes the antigen into a particulate form which appears to assist in producing an IgA B cell response by shifting the cellular immune response towards the T_(H) and thereby not encouraging a response by the T_(s). There is evidence that the GALT may be able to discriminate between microbial and non-microbial (food) antigens in part by the form of the antigen when it is first encountered, and thus bacterial antigens do not necessarily have special antigenic characteristics that make them different from food antigens, but they are antigenic because of the bacterial context in which they are presented. The particulate nature of microspheres may serve to mimic that context. It may be important to note that we also observed a significant response to AF/R1 in animals inoculated with non-encapsulated pili; thus, some of this antigen which was still in its native form was able to enter the Peyer's patch. This may be explained by the fact that AF/R1 is known to mediate the attachment of RDEC-1 to the Peyer's patch M-cell. If the antigen employed in this type of study was not able to attach to micrometer M-cells, one would expect to see an even greater difference in the responses of animals which had received microencapsulated versus nonencapsulated antigen.

The microspheres used in these experiments included a size range from 1 to 12 micrometers. Tie 1 to 5 micrometer particles have been shown to disseminate to the MLN and spleen within migrating macrophages; thus, the observed proliferative responses by cells from the MLN and spleen may reflect priming of MLN or splenic lymphocytes by antigen-presenting/accessory cells which have phagocytosed 1 to 5 micrometer antigen-laden microspheres in the Peyer's patch and then disseminated onto the MLN. Alternatively these responses may be a result of the normal migration of antigen stimulated lymphocytes that occurs from the Peyer's patch to the MLN and on into the general circulation before homing to mucosal sites. Proliferative responses by MLN cells are of interest because it has been shown that cells undergoing blastogenesis in the MLN tend to migrate onto mucosal areas. However, studies involving in vitro lymphocyte proliferation of rabbit MLN cells can be very difficult to conduct and to interpret due to non-specific high background cpm in the media controls. By simultaneously conducting experiments using different protocols, we have found that this problem can be prevented by avoiding the use of fetal calf serum in the culture and by initially plating the cells in 24-well plates. Using this method, the blasting lymphocytes are easily transferred to a 96-well plate where they receive the [³H]thymidine, while fibroblasts and other adherent cells remain behind and thus do not inflate the background cpm.

The proliferative response to the peptide antigens was of particular interest in these studies. The rabbits that received non-encapsulated AF/R1 ailed to respond to any of the peptides tested either at the level of the Peyer's patch, the MLN, or the spleen. In contrast, Peyer's patch cells from the animals that received microencapsulated AF/R1 responded to all the peptides 24 tested with two exceptions: Rabbit 134 did not respond to AF/R1 108-123, and rabbit 135 did not respond to AF/R1 40-47/79-86. The reason for these non-responses is not clear, but it probably is not due to MHC restrictions as evidenced by the fact that rabbit 134 was able to respond to AF/R1 108-123 at the level of the MLN. The non-responses may be due to varing kinetics of sensitized T cell migration in different rabbits, or they may reflect differences in the efficiency of antigen presentation by cells from different lymphoid tissues of these animals. Of all the synthetic peptides tested, only AF/R1 40-55, (the one selected as a probable B cell epitope), was recognized by serum from an AF/R1 hyperimmune rabbit. In addition, this peptide was the only one that was uniformly recognized by Peyer's patch, MLN, and spleen cells from both rabbit. In addition, this peptide was the only one that was uniformly recognized by Peyer's patch, MLN, and spleen cells from both rabbits that were immunized with microencapsulated AF/R1. The recognition by anti-AF/R1 serum antibodies indicates that the amino acid sequence of this peptide includes an immunodominant B cell epitope. Thus AF/R1 4-55 may readily bind to antigen-specific B cells thereby leading to an efficient B cell presentation of this antigen to sensitized T cells. Even though AF/R1 40-55 was not selected as a probable T cell epitope by either the Rothbard or Berzofsky methods, the current study clearly indicates that this peptide can also stimulate a proliferative immune response. Although further studies are required to definitively show that the proliferating cells are indeed T cells, the responses observed in this study arm most likely due to the blast transformation of cells from the lineage. Therefore, AF/R1 40-55 appears to contain a T cell epitope in addition to the immunodominant B cell epitope, and this area of the AF/R1 may thereby play an important role in the overall immune response and subsequent protection against RDEC-1.

The proliferative responses of spleen cells was low in all animals tested; however, we feel that this may be simply a matter of the kinetics of cellular migration. The rabbits in this study were sacrificed only two weeks after their first exposure to antigen. This relatively short time period may not have provided sufficient time for cells that were produced by Peyer's patch and MLN blasts to have migrated as far as the spleen in sufficient numbers.

An ideal mucosal vaccine preparation would not only assist in the uptake and presentation of the immunogen of interest, but it would also be effective without requiring carrier molecules or adjuvants which may complicate vaccine production or delay regulatory approval. The incorporation of antigen into microspheres appears to provide an ideal mucosal delivery system for oral vaccine immunogens because the observed immunopotentiating effect is achieved without the need for carriers of adjuvants. This ability may prove to be of great value, particularly to enhance the delivery of oral synthetic peptide vaccines to the GALT.

TABLE 10 Linear B-Cell Epitopes of CFA/I in Monkeys Sequence Individuals Position Responding Consensus Site 1. 11-21 3 VDPVIDLLQ (SEQ ID NO: 35) 2.  93-101 2 AKEFEAAA (SEQ ID NO: 25) 3. 124-136 2 GPAPT (SEQ ID NO: 36) 4. 66-74 2 PQLTDVLN (SEQ ID NO: 37) 5. 22-29 2 GNALPSAV (SEQ ID NO: 32) 6. 32-40 1 KTF* 7. 38-45 1 8.  3-11 1 *Overlap between epitope 6 and 7

TABLE 11 Prediction of T cell epitopes within the CFA/I molecule^(a) Predicted Amphipathic Segments 7 aa blocks 11 aa blocks Rothbard Criteria 22-25  8-11 16 34-38 32-44 30 40-46 51-71 38 50-53 86-92 44 56-62 102-108 57 64-71 130-131 61 104-108 135-137 70 131-137 116 124 127 137 ^(a)The sequence numbers of the first amino acid of the predicted T cell epitopes are shown. Software designed to predict T cell epitopes based on the Berzofsky method was published as the AMPHI program. It predicts amphipathic amino acid segments by evaluating 7 or 11 residues as a block and assigning a score to the middle residue of that block. Software designed to predict T cell epitopes based on the Rothbard method was written by Stephen Van Albert (The Walter Reed # Army Institute of Research, Washington, D.C.).

The sequence numbers of the first amino acid of the predicted T cell epitopes are shown. Software designed to predict T cell epitopes based on the Berzofsky method was published as the AMPHI program. It predicts amphipathic amino acid segments by evaluating 7 or 11 residues as a block and assigning a score to the middle residue of that block. Software designed to predict T cell epitopes based on the Rothbard method was written by Stephen Van Albert (The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, D.C.).

TABLE 11 Amino acid sequence of immunodominant T cell epitopes* Residue Numbers Amino Acids  8-17 Thr Ala Ser Val Asp Pro Val Ile Asp Leu (SEQ ID NO: 9) 40-49 Phe Glu Ser Tyr Arg Val Met Thr Gln Val (SEQ ID NO: 38) 72-81 Leu Asn Ser Thr Val Gln Met Pro Ile Ser (SEQ ID NO: 14) 134-143 Asn Tyr Ser Gly Val Val Ser Leu Val Met (SEQ ID NO: 39) *Of the 19 decepeptides that supported a significant proliferative response and contained a serine at either position 2, 3, or 4, nine has a serine specifically at position 3. Some of the most robust responses were to the peptides that contained a serine residue at the third position. The amino acid sequence of four such decapeptides which are believed to be immunodominant T cell epitopes is shown.

Demonstrative Evidence of Protective Immunity

RDEC-1 is an eteroadherent diarrhea producing E. coli in rabbit. Its attachment to the mucosa is by the adhesin (AF/R1 pili). The adhesin is an excellent vaccine candidate. It may intitiate a mucosal response but is susceptiple to digestion in the gut. The incorporation of AF/R1 into biocompabible, nondigestible microspheres enhanced mucosal cellular immune responses to RDEC-1. We have demonstrated that immunization with AF/R1 Pili in microspheres protect rabbits against infection with RDEC-1.

Six rabbits received intra-duodenal immunization of AF/R1 microspheres (0.62% coreloading by weight) at 200 ug AF/R1 on day 0 then boosted with 100 ug AF/R1 in microspheres on days 7, 14, and 21 followed by RDEC-1 challenge with 10⁸ organisms one week latter than observed for 1 week and then sacrificed, unimmunized rabbits were challenged with 10⁸ RDEC-1 only and observed 1 week than sacrificed. Also, 2 rabbits were immunized only then were sacrificed 10 days latter. Only one of these animals had bile IgA antibodies to AF/R1. but both had specific sensitized T cells which released IL-4 upon challenge in the spleen, Peyer's patch and illeal lamina propria. All nine immunized animals developed diarrhea and weight loss which was significant at the p<0.001 level compared to the immunized animals which displayed no diarrhea and no weight loss. The immunized animals colonized the intestinal tract with RDEC-1 the same as the unimmunized animals. However, there was a striking difference regarding the adherence of RDEC-1 to the mucosa. No adherence was seen in cecum in the immunized animals compared to 4/7 in the unimmunized side animals. This difference was significant to the p<0.01 level. The RDEC-1 exposure although not producing disease in the immunized animals did effect a booster immunization as relected in the increase in anti-AF/R1 antibody containing cells in the muscosa similiar to the immunized rabbits. This study clearly demonstrated complete protection against RDEC-1 infection and strongly indicates similiar results should be expected with entertoxigenicity E. coli using the Colony Forming Antigens (CFA's) in microsphere vaccines.

Summary Statement of Protective Immunity Showings

RDEC-1 infection of rabbits causes an enteroadherent E. coli diarrheal disease, and provides a model for the study of adherence-factor immunity. Pilus adhesions are vaccine candidates, but purified pili are subject to intestinal degradation. Previously we showed potentiation of the mucosal cellular immune response to the AF/R1 pilus of RDEC-1 by incorporation into biodegradable polylactide/glycolide microspheres (AF/R1-MS). We now present efficacy testing of this vaccine. Six rabbits were primed with 200 ug and boosted with 100ug of AF/RI-MS weekly ×3, then challenged at week 5 with 10⁸ CFU of RDEC-1 expressing AF/R1. Nine unvaccinated rabbits were also challenged. Two rabbits vaccinated with AF/R1-MS were sacrificed at week 5, without challenge, for measurement of anti-AF/R1 antibodies in bile (by ELISA) and anti-AF/R1 containing cells (ACC) in the intestinal lamina propria (by immunohistochemistry). Attachment of RDEC-1 to intestinal epithelial cells was estimated (0.4+) by immunoperoxidase staining of histologic sections. Colonizaiton of intestinal fluid was measured by culture of intestinal flushes. Results: Rabbits given AF/R1-MS remained well and 4/6 gained weight after challenge, whereas 9/9 unvaccinated rabbits lost weight after challenge (mean weight change +10 vs −270 gms p<0.001), (see FIG. 35). The mean score of RDEC-1 attachment to the cecal epithelium was 0 in vaccinated, and 2+ in unvaccinated animals (see FIG. 36). RDEC-1 colonizaiton (log CFU/gm) in cecal fluids was similar in both groups (mean 6.3 vs 7.3; p=0.09) (see FIG. 34). ACC were not seen in the lamina propria of vaccinated but unchallenged animals, but anti-pilus IgA antibody levels in bile were increased 1 S.D. over negative controls in 1 animal. Conclusions: Vaccination with AF/R1-MS was safe and protected rabbits against RDEC-1 disease. Protection was associated with interference with RDEC-1 adherence to the mucosal surface, but lumenal colonization was not prevented.

More recent applicants have focused areas of this invention related to an immunostimulating composition for the burst-free, sustained, programmable release of activ materialts) over a period from 1 to 100 days, which comprises encapsulating microspheres, which may contain a pharmac utically-acceptable adjuvant, wherein said microspheres are comprised of (a) a blend of uncapped and end-capped biodegradable-biocompatible poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) as the bulk matrix, wherein the relative ratio between the amount of lactide and glycolide components are within the range of 90:10 to 40:60 and the poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) is a blend of uncapped and end-capped forms in ratios ranging from 100:0 to 1 to 99, and (b) active material such as an immunogenic substance comprising Colony Factor Antigen (DFA/II, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)), and/or a physiologically similar antigen that serves to elicit the production of antibodies in a mammal (human or nonhuman).

These areas of invention are referred to herein after as Part II and Part III, respectively, and are itemized as follows:

1. An immunostimulating composition for the burst-free, sustained, programmable release of active material(s) over a period from 1 to 100 days, which comprises encapsulating-microspheres, which may contain a pharmaceutically-acceptable adjuvant, wherein said microspheres having a diameter between 1 nanogram (ng) to 10 microns (um) are comprised of (a) a blend of uncapped and end-capped biodegradable-biocompatible poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) as the bulk matrix, wherein the relative ratio between the amount of lactide and glycolide components are within the range of 90:10 to 40:60, and the poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) is a blend of uncapped and end-capped forms in ratios ranging from 100: to 1 to 99, and (b) active material such as an immunogenic substance comprising Colony Factor Antigen. (CFA/II), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and/or a physiologically similar antigen that serves to elicit the production of antibodies in a mammal (human or nonhuman).

12. An immunostimulating composition according to Item 1 wherein the amount of said immunogenic substance is within the range of 0.1 to 1.5% based on the volume of said bulk matrix.

3. An immunostimulating composition according to Item 2 wherein the relative ratio between the lactide and glycolide component is within the range of 48:52 to 52:48

4. An immunostimulating composition according to Item 2 wherein the size of more than 50% of said microspheres is between 5 to 10 um diameter by volume.

5. A vaccine comprising an immunostimulating composition of Item 4 and a sterile, pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier therefor.

6. A vaccine comprising an immunostimulating composition of Item 5 wherein said immunogenic substance is Colony Factor Antigen (CFA/II).

7. A vaccine comprising an immunostimulating composition of Item 5 wherein said immunogenic substance is hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).

8. A method for the vaccination against bacterial infection comprising administering to a human, an antibactericidally effective amount of a composition of Item 6.

9. A method according to Item 7 wherein the bacterial infection is caused by a bacteria selected from the group consisting essentially of Salmonella, typhi, Shigella Sonnei, Shigella Flexneri, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella boybii, Escheria coli, Vibrio cholera, yersinia, staphylococus, clostridium, and campylobacter.

10. A method for the vaccination against viral infection comprising administering to a human an antivirally effective amount of a composition of Item 7.

11. A diagnostic assay for bacterial infections comprising a composition of Item 4.

12. A method of preparing an immunotherapeutic agent against infections caused by a bacteria comprising the step of immunizing a plasma donor with a vaccine according to Item6 such that a hyperimmune globulin is produced which contains antibodies directed against the bacteria.

13. A method preparing an immunotherapeutic agent against infections caused by a virus comprising the step of immunizing a plasma donor with a vaccine according to Item 7 such that hyperimmune globulin is produced which contains antibodies directed against the hepatitis B virus.

14. An immunotherapy method comprising the step f administering to a subject an immunostimulatory amount of hyperimmune globulin prepare according to Item 12.

15. An immunotherapy method comprising the step of administering to a subject an immunostimulatory amount of hyperimmune globulin prepared according to Item 13.

16. A method for the protection against infection of a mammal (human or nonhuman animal) by enteropathogenic organisms or hepatitis B virus comprising administering to said mammal an immunogenic amount of an immunostimulating composition of Item 3.

17. A method according to Item 16 wherein the immunostimulating composition is administered orally.

18. A method according to Item 16 wherein the immunostimulating composition is administered parenterally.

Part II

In sum, the Colony Factor Antigen (CFA/II) from enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) prepared under GMP was successfully incorporated into biodegradable polymer microspheres (CFA/II BPM) under GMP and found to be safe and immunogenic when administered intra-duodenally to rabbits. CFA/II was incorporated into poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres which were administered by direct endoscopy into the duodenum. Following vaccination, Peyer's patchcells responded by lymphocyte proliferation to in vitro challenge with CFA/II indicating the CFA/II BPM to be immunogenic when administered intra-intestinally. Also, B cells secreting specific anti CFA/II antibodies were found in spleens following vaccination. No pathological changes were found following total necropsies of 10 rabbits vaccinated with CFA/II BPM. As a potency test, high serum IgG antibody titers to CFA/II were produced following intra-muscular administration of CFA/II BPM to additional rabbits. The CFA/II BPM contained 63% between 5-10 um by volume particle size distribution; 1.17% protein content; 2.15% moisture; <0.01% acetonitrile; 1.6% heptane; 22 nonpathogenic bacteria and 3 fungi per 1 mgm protein dose; and passed the general safety test. We conclude that the CFA/II BPM oral vaccine is immunogenic and safe to begin a Phase I clinical safety study following IND approval.

Introduction

Enterotoxigenic Eseherichia coli (ETEC) causes diarrheal disease with an estimated 650,000,000 cases anually in developing countries resulting in 500,000 deaths predominantly in the pediatric age groups. Currently there is no vaccine against ETEC induced diarrhea. The availability of an effective oral vaccine would be of great value to the people of South America, Africa and and Asia as well as the millions of people who travel to these high risk areas and account for half of the annual cases.

The first step in pathogenesis is adherence to the small intestine epithelial cells by protein fimbrial (pilus) adhesins called colonization factor antigen (CFA). Three major CFAs have been recognized, CFA/I, CFA/II and CFA/IV. (25)

Ten human volunteers who were immunized orally twice weekly for 4 weeks with CFA/II developed a poor antibody response and did not show any significant protection when challenged with pathogenic ETEC (26). This disappointing response was attributed to adverse effects of gastric acid, even at neutral pH, of fimbrial proteins (27). When the vaccine was administered by inoculation directly into the duodenum, 4 of 5 immunized volunteers developed a significant rise in secretory IgA with CFA/II antibody (26).

D and L-lactic acid and glycolic acid, as homo- and copolymers, are biodegradable and permit slow and continued release of antigen with a resultant adjuvant activity. These polymers have been shown to be safe in a variety of applications in human beings and in animals (28-32). Delivery of antigens via microspheres composed of biodegradable, biocompatible lactide/glycolide polymers (29-32) may enhance the mucosal response be protecting the antigen from digestion and targeting them to lymphoid cells in Peyer's patches (29-32). McQueen et al. (33) have shown that E. coli AF/R1 pili in PLGA microspheres, introduced intra-duodenally in rabbits, protected them against diarrhea and weight loss when challenged with the parent strain rabbit diarrheagenic stain of E. coli (RDEC-1). Only one vaccinated rabbit of six lost weight and only one had soft pelleted stool. In contrast, all control unvaccinated animals became ill, lost weight, and shed soft pellets or unformed mucoid stool. Significant lymphocyte proliferation to AF/R1 from Peyer's patches and ordinary IgA anti AF/R1 antibody levels were seen.

In order to improve the CFA/II vaccine it was incorporated into PLGA microspheres under GMP in order to protect it from digestion and target it to the intestinal lymphoid system. The CFA/II BPM vaccine has undergone pre-clinical evaluation and has been found to be safe and immunogenic.

Materials and Methods

Preparation of CFA/II Pilus Vaccine. Under Good Laboratory and Good Manufacturing Practices, E. coli, strain M424C1-06;816 producing CFA/II were cultured in 75-80 CFA agar plates (24×24 cm) for 24 hrs then harvested by scraping. The harvest was homogenized at slow speed for 30 minutes with over head drive unit and cup immersed in an ice bath. The homogenate was centrifuge at 4° C. at 16, 500×g for 30 minutes. The supernatant saved and the pellet rehomogenized and centrifuged with the supernatants pooled. The supernatant pool was centrifuged at 50,000×g for 45 minutes. The supernatant treated with ammonium sulfate at 20% satuaration, stirred 30 minutes at 4° C. than stored at 4° C. for 16 hrs then centrifuged at 19,700×g for 30 minutes. The supernatant saved and treated with ammonium sulfate at 45% saturation, stirred 30 minutes at 4° C., stored at 4° C. for 66-72 hrs, then centrifuged at 19,700×g for 45 minutes. The pellet was resuspended in about 100 mls of PBS containing 0.5% formalin and held at 22 for 18 hrs then dialyzed for 45-50 hrs against PBS at 4° C. using a total of 12 liters in 2 liter amounts. The dialysis was terminated when the PBS contained less then 0.03% formalin using Nessler's reagent and fuchsin sulfuose acid reagent. The final product contained 1 mgm protein/ml PBS, was sterile and passed the general safety test.

Preparation of Desalted CFA/II Vaccine. Two ml of the CFA/II vaccine were placed into a Centricon 30 tube and centrifuged at 1700 rpm at 4-6° C. (Beckman model GPR centrifuge equipped with GA-24 fixed angle rotor) until all the buffer solution passed through the filter (about 90-120 minutes). Sterile water was added to each tube to disperse the CFA/II retained on the filter. The desalted antigen dispersions from all tube were pooled and then divided into five equal parts by weight so as to contain 20 mg of the CFA/II each. The desalted antigen dispersion was stored at −10 to −20° C.

Freeze Drying of the Desalted CFA/II Dispersion. 80 mg of sucrose was added to each part of the CFA/II dispersion. The resulting mixture was flash-frozen using a dry ioeacetone bath (100-150 ml od acetone and 50-100 g of dry ice). The frozen solution was freeze dried overnight using Repp Sublimator 16 freeze dryer at vacuum of 1 micrometer of mercury and a shelf temperature not exceeding 37° C.

CFA/II Biodegradable Polymer Microspheres

Particle size distribution. About 1 mgm of microspheres were dispersed in 2 ml of 1% Polysorbate 60(Ruger Chemical Co. Inc. Irvington, N.J.) in water in a 5 ml capacity glass vial by sonication. This dispersion was observed under a calibrated optical microscope with 43× magnification. Using a precalibrated eye-piece micrometer, the diameter of 150 randomly chosen microspheres, was determined and the microsphere size distribution was determined

Scanning Electron Microscopic Analysis. Microspheres were sprinkled or the surface of 10 mm stub covered with a non-conductive adhesive (Sticky-Tab, Ernest F. Fullem, Inc., Lutham, N.Y.) Samples were coated with gold/palladium in an automatic sputter-coating opparatus (Samsputter-2A, Tonsimis Research Corporation). The samples were examined with a Hitachi S-450 scanning electron microscope operated at 15-20 KV.

Preparation of CFA/II Microspheres, Solvent extraction techique was used to encapsulate the freeze dried CFA/II into polyoactide glycolide)(Medisorb Techologies International, visocity 0.73 dl/g) microspheres in the 1-10 um size range to achieve theoretical antigen loading of 1% by weight. The freeze dried antigen-sugar & matrix was dispersed in an acetolitrile solution of the polymer and then emulsified to achieve desired droplet size. Microspheres were solidified and recovered by using heptane as extracting solvent. The microsphere batches were pooled and vacuum dried to remove traces of solvent.

Protein Content. The CFA/II microspheres were dissolved in 0.9% SDS in 0.1N NaOH for 18 hr with stirring then neutralized to pH 7 and assayed. The micro bicichoninic acid (BCA) method was utilized with both lactic acid and glycolic acid blanks and compared to bovine serum albumin (BSA) standard and results expressed as percent by weight.

Moisture Content, One hundred and fifty mgm of CFA/II microspheres were dissolved in 3 ml of acetonitrile by sonication for 3 hours. One ml sample was injected into a Karl Ficher titrimeter and triter reading observed was recorded and acetonitrile blank was substracted to determined percent water content.

Acetonitrile and Heptane Residuals. Ten mgm of CFA II microspheres were dissolved in 1 ml DMF then analysed using gas chromatography and comparing peak heights to external standards of either acetonrile or heptane diluted in DMF with 10 mgm of blank microspheres. The results are expressed as percent by weight.

Microbial load. One hundred mgm of CFA/II microsphere(single dose) are suspended in 2 ml of sterile saline than poured into 2 blood agar plates (1 ml each). All colonies are counted and identified after 48 hours in culture at 37° C. and expressed as total number. Similiar amount of microspheres is in 0.25 ml aliquots poured onto 4 different fungal culture plates (Sabhiragar, casein peptone agar with chloramphenicol, brain heart infusion agar with chloramphenol and genimycin or chloramphenicol alone) and cultured at 30° for 5 weeks and the colories counted & identified and expressed as total number.

CFA/II Release From Microsphere Study. Thirty mgm samples in triplicate were placed in 2 ml conical upright microcentrifge tubes containing 1 ml of PBS at pH 7.4. The tubes were capped and kept immerized in a water bath maintained at 37° C. with constant agitation. The samples were withdrawn at 1, 3, 6, 8, 15 and 22 hour time intervals by centrifuging the sample tubes for 5 minutes at the maximum speed of bench top centrifuge. The release medium was collected through a 5 um nylor screen for CFA/II protein analysis using the micro BCA method and comparing results to BSA standard and expressing results as percent cumulative release of CFA/II.

General Safety Test. Two doses of one hundred mgm CFA/II microspheres were suspended by sonication for 5 minutes in 3.1 mls of sterile vaccine dilutent consisting of injectable saline containing 0.5% Polysorbate 60^(R) N.F., 0.03 ml were injected intraperiloneally into each of 2 mice and 3 mls were administered by gastric lavage to each of 2 guinea pigs. The animals were weighed both before and at 7 days following the vaccine administration. All animals were observed daily for any signs of toxicity.

Rabbits, 1.5-2 kilogram male specific pathogen free New Zealand white rabbits, obtained from closed colony maintained at the National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Md. They were selected for study if they did not have measurable serum antibodies at 1:2 dilution to CFA/II antigens by ELISA and were not colonized by E. coli as determined by culture of rectal swabs.

Intra-Muscular Immunization of Rabbits and ELISA. Two Rabbits were immunized with CFA/II microsphere vaccine at 25 ug protein in two different sites intra-muscularly on day 0. Sera were btained from all animals before immunization on day o and days 7 and 14. The sera were tested by ELISA for IgG antibodies to CFA/II antigen and individual coli surface (CS) proteins CS3 and CS1. ELISA plates were coated with 3 ug/ml of either CFA/II antigen, CS3 or CS1 protein (150 ul/well) and incubated with 150 ul/well of PBS with 0.1% BSA for four hours at room temperature. The PBS with 0.1% BSA is washed out with PBS and 100 ul/well of different dilutions of each rabbit serum in triplicate was added to the plates. The dilutions ranged from undiluted to 1:1,000,00. The plates were incubated with the sera for 3 hours at 37° C. The sera were washed out with PBS and then horse radish peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG was added to the plates at a 1:1000 dilution (100 ul/well). The plates were incubated for 1 hour at room temperature with the peroxidase conjugate. The conjugates were washed out of the plates with PBS and 100 ul/well of an ABTS substrate solution (Kikegaard and Perry Laboratories) was added to each well in the plates. The plates were read using the ELISA reader(Dynatech Laboratories MR 580) at a wave length of 405 nm after 15 minutes.

The results are measured and expressed as antibody titers.

Intra-duodenal Vaccination of Rabbits. Rabbits (N=5) were vaccinated with CFA/II microsphercs containing either 25 or 50 ug of protein suspended in 1 ml of PBS containing 0.5% Polysorbrate 60^(R) on day 0 and 7 by sonication. The microspheres were injected through an Olympus BF type P10 bronchoscope into the duodenum of the rabbits following sedation with an intra muscular injection of ketamine HCl (50 mgm I.M.)(Ketaset, Fort Dodge Laboratories, Fort Dodge, Iowa) and Lylazine (10 mgm I.M.) (Rompom Malay Corporadon, Shnanee, Kans.). The endoscope was advanced ready under direct vission into the stomach which was insufflated with a 50 ml bolus of room air via a catheter passed through the biopsy channel. The catheter was advanced through the pylorus 3-4 cm into the duodemum and the microsphere suspension in 1 ml of PBS was injected, followed by a 9 ml flush of PBS and removal of the air bolus. The rabbits were sacrificed by chemical euthanasia at day 14.

Anti-CFA/II Stimulated Lymphocyted Transformation. The Peyer's Patchs were removed and cell suspension obtained by teasing and irigation with a 20 guage needle and syringe. The cells were placed in 2 ml of media at a concentration of 2.5×10⁴ cells/ml for each well of a 24 well plate. These cells were challenged separately with BSA and the CFA/II antigen at doses of 500, 50 and 5 ng/ml in triplicate wells. The plates were incubated at 37° C. with 5% CO₂. On day 4 the cells were mixed while still inside the wells and 100 ul were transferred into each of 4 wells in a 96 well flat bottom microculture plate. Thus, the challenge at each antigen dose represented by 3 wells in the 24 well plate is now represented by 12 wells in the 96 well plate. After the cells have been transferred, each well is pulsed with 20 ul of 50 uCi/ml titiated thymidine. These pulsed plates were incubated for 6 hrs then harvester with 96 Mach II Cell harvested (Tourtec, Inc.). The lymphocyte proliferation was determined by the tritriated thymidine incoporation measured in kilo counts per minute (Kcpm) using the 1205 Beta Plate Liquid scintillation counter (LKB, Wallac, Inc.). The results are expressed as mean Kcpm ± SD and compared to media controls.

Anti-CFA/II Antibody Secreting B Cells. Spleen cells were obtained from immunized rabbits on day 14 following intra-duodenal immunization with CFA/II microsphere vaccine. The cells were placed in 96 well round bottom microculture plate at a final concentration of 6×10⁵ cells/well and incubated for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days at 37° C. with 5 CO₂, 96 well flat bottom microculture plates were coated with 3 ug/ml of CFA/II antigen overnight blocked with PBS with 0.05% Polysorbate 60^(R). On the harvest days, the cells were gently flushed out of the wells of the round bottom plates and transferred to the corresponding well in the antigen coated, 96 well flat bottom microculture plates to be tested for the presence of antibody secreting cells using ELISPOT technique. The plates were incubated with the cells overnight at 4° C. The cells were then washed out of the flat bottom plates with PBS, and 100 ul/well of horserudish-peroxidase conjugated, goat anti-rabbit total antibody (IgM, IgG, and IgA) at a 1:1000 dilution were added to the plates. The Plates were incubated for 1 hour at room temperature, at which time, the conjugate was washed out of the plates with PBS. 0.1 mgm of agarose was dissolved in 10 ml of PBS by boiling. After the agar solution cooled but not hardened, 6 mgm of 4-chloro-naphthol, 2 mls of methanol and 30 ul of hydrogen peroxide were added to make the substrate solution. The solution was placed into the flat bottom plates (100 ul/well) and the plates were held at 4° C. overnight so the agar could harden. The number of browish spots per 15 wells (total of 9×10⁶ spleen cells) was counted and represents the number of antibody secreting cells per 9×10⁶ spleen cells.

Pathological Evaluation. Rabbits were euthanized by parenteral overdose of sodium phenobarbital and were subjected to complete necropsy. Sample of tissue including small and large intestine with gut associated lymphoid tissue, spleen, mesenteric and mediastinal lymph nodes, lung, trachea, liver and kidney were fixed by immersion in 10% neutral buffered formalin. Tissues were routinely processed for light microscopy and embedded in paraffin. Five micron thick sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin.

Statistical Analysis. The paired student t-test was used to determine p values.

Results

Particle Size Distribution. The results of size frequency analysis of 150 randomly chosen microspheres are shown in (FIG. 37). The particle size distribution is plotted in % frequency against particle size in diameter (size) expressed in um. The average number fregency diameter is 4.6 um. The average volume frequency diameter is 4.6 um. The percent volume between diameters of 5-10 um is 63% and the percent volume less than 10 um diameter is 88%.

Scanning Electoron Microscopy. The microspheres are seen in (FIG. 38) which is a scanning electron photomicrograph. Nearly all the microspheres are less than 10 um as compared to the 5 um bar. Also the surfaces of the microsphere arm smooth and demonstrate lack of pores.

Protein Content. The protein loads of the individual batches are the following: K62A8, 1.16%±0.10 SD; K63A8, 1.023%±0.17 SD; K64A8, 1.232%±0.13 SD; and K65A8, 0.966%±0.128 SD. The mean average protein load is 1.16%±0.15 SD. The protein load of the CFA/II microsphere vaccine in the final dose vial is the following: Lot L74F2, 1.175%±0.17 SD.

Moisture Content. The CFA/II microsphere vaccine (Lot 74F2) percent water content was found using the Karl Fischer titrimeter method to be 2.154% using triplicate samples.

Acetonitrile and Heptane Residuals. The acetonitrile residuals of the 4 individual CFA/II microsphere batches are the following: K62A8, <0.1%; K62A8, <0.1%, K64A8, <0.1%; and K65A8, <0.1%. The acetonitrile residual of the CFA/II microsphere vaccine in the final dose vial is the following: Lot L74F2, 0.07±0.05%. The heptane residual of the 4 individual CFA/II microsphere batches are the following: K62A8, 1.9%; K63A8, 1.4%; K64A8, 1.6% and K65A8, 1.6%. Following pooling in heptane and subsequent drying, the heptane residual of the CFA/II microsphere vaccine in the final dose vial is the following: Lot L74F2, 1.6±0.1%.

Microbial load. One hundred milligrams (a single dose) of CFA/II microsphere vaccine (Lot L74F2) in the final dose vial was suspended in a 2 ml of sterile saline and 1 ml poured onto a blood agar culture plate ×2. Twenty two colonies grew after 48 hours of culture and 21 were identified as coagulase negative staphlycoccus and 1 as a micrococus species. All these bacteria are considered to be nonpathogenic to humans. An additional 100 mgms of CFA/II microsphere vaccine (Lot L74F2) were suspended in 2 ml of sterile saline and 0.25 ml poured onto four different fungal culture agars and cultered for 5 weeks. Three fungal colonies grew and each was identified as A. glaucus.

CFA Release From Microsphere Study. Three thirty mgm samples were incubated each in 1 ml of PBS, pH 7.4 at 37° C. for 0, 1, 3, 6, 8, 15 and 22 hours. The superanates were removed and replaced at these times. The protein content was determined for each supernate sample and the results are seen in (FIG. #39). The results are plotted as percent release of CFA/II against time in hours. An average of 8% of CFA/II is released at one hour rising to 20% at 8 hours then a slower release to 25% at 22 hours.

Genera) Safety Test. Two one hundred milligrams(a single dose) of CFA/II microsphere vaccine in the final dose vials were suspended in 3.1 mls of the sterile dilulent consisting of 0.85 N saline prepared for injection plus Polysorbrate 60^(R) at 0.5%. Two Swiss mice (16.5 gm) were injected intraperitoneally with 0.03 mls and two Hartley guinea pigs (350 gm) were administered by gastric lavage 3.0 mls.

None of these animals displayed any signs of toxicity for 7 days. The mice gained and average of 2.3 gms and the guinea pigs gained and average, of 43 grams. The CFA/II microsphere vaccine therefore passed the general safety test.

Serum IgG Antibody Responses. Two rabbits were immunized in two separate sites intra-muscularly with 25 ug of protein of CFA/II microsphere vaccine (Lot L74F 2) in the final dose vial. Sera samples were obtained before and 7 and 14 days following immunization. The IgG antibody titers to CFA/II CSI and CS3 protein were determined using ELISA and the results seen in (FIG. 32). The results are expressed as mean antibody titers against the different antigens at 0, 7 and 14 days. High antibody titers greater than 1000 were seen at 7 days to both CS1 and CS3 protein which rose to greater than 10,000 by day 14. The individuals titers to CFA/II are seen in (FIG. 33). Rabbit 109 developed an antibody titer of 1,000 by day 7 rising to 3,000 by day 14. Rabbit 108 had a log higher rise at day 7 and 2 log higher rise at day 14 being 3×10⁴ at day 7 going to ×10³ at day 14.

Anti-CFA/II Stimulated Lymphocyte Transformation. Five rabbits were immunized intra-duodenally with CFA/II microspheres containing either 25 ug of protein (human dose equivalent) or 50 ug of protein on days 0 and 7 and then sacrificied on day 14. The Peyer's patch lymphocytes were challenged in vitro with CFA/II antigen, BSA media and alone. The lymphocyte transformation was determined by tritriated thymidine incorporation. The results of the high dose immunization are seen in (FIG. 34). The results are expressed as Kcpm against antigen dose. No response to BSA or media control is seen in any of the five rabbits. All rabbits responded by lymphocyte transformation in a dose dependent manner to the CFA/II.

The highest dose responses were 3-10×'s the media control are highly significant with a p value of <0.002. The results of the 5 rabbits receiving the low dose immunization are seen in (FIG. 35). Rabbit #80 gave no response probably due to poor Peyer's patch cell population which did not respond were to Conconavallin A mitogenic stimulation either. The remaining 4 rabbits gave positive responses with the high CFA/II dose response being 2-8× media control and highly significant with p values of <0.009. Again no response were seen to BSA compared to the media cont

Anti-CFA/II Antibody Secreting B-Cells Five rabbits immunized intraduodenally with CFA/II microsphere containing 50 ug of CFA/II protein at days 0, 7 than sacrificed at day 14 were studied. The spleen cells were placed into microculture then ELISPOT forming B-Cells secreting specific anti CFA/11 antibody determined at days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The results are seen in (FIG. 36) and expressed as # of antibody secreting cells per 9×10⁶ spleen cell against culture days. Positive responses were seen in all 5 rabbits on days 2-5. Days of maximum responses occurred on day 3 for rabbits 65 and 66; day 4 for rabbit 85; amd day 5 for rabbits 83 and 86. The responses are highly significant being 7-115 times higher than the 1-2 cells seen on all days in 4 control rabbit (67, 69, 72, 89) (FIG. 45). Here is a composite graph expressing the mean counts ± ISD for all days of culture.

Pathological Evaluation. A consistent finding in the spleens of all rabbits both the 25 and 50 ug protein dose groups was minimal to mild diffuse lymphocytic hyperplasia the periarteriolar lymphatic sheaths (T cell dependent areas). Two of five rabbits of the 50 ug dose group (#83 and #86) also had mild lymphocytic hyperplasia of splenic follicular (B cell dependent) areas.

The three rabbits in an untreated control group had histologically normal spleens.

Reactive hyperplasia of mesentemic lymph nodes was often seen in vaccinated rabbits. Two of five rabbits in the 25 ug dose equivalent group (#83 and #86) also had minimal to mild lymphocytic hyperplasia of cortical follicular (B cell dependent) areas. The mesenteric lymph nodes of the other vaccinated rabbits and of the untreated control rabbits were within normal limits. Incidental or background lesions found in one or more rabbits of all three group were acute minimal to mild pnuemonia and foreign body microgranulomas of the cecal gut associated lymphoid tissue.

Disscussion

McQueen et al (33)has found that the AF/R1 adhesin of rabbit diarrheagenic Escherichai coli (RDEC-1) incorporated into biodegrable microspheres could function as a safe and effective oral intestinal vaccine in the rabbit diarrhea model. The AF/R1 was incorporated into poly D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres and administered intraduodenally. Jarboe et al (34) reported that Peyer's patch cells obtained from rabbits immunized intraduodenually is with AF/R1 in microspheres responded with lymphocte proliferation upon in vitro challenge with AF/R1. This early response at 14 days gave a clear indication as to the immunogenicity of E. coli contained within the polymer microspheres.

In developing an effective oral vaccine against enterotoxigenic E. coli, CFA/II pili given as an oral vaccine was found to be ineffective. The CFA/II pilus proteins were found to be rapidly degraded when treated with 0.1 HCl and pepsin conditions mimicking those contained in the stomach (27). The CFA/II was found to be immunogenic when given in high doses intra-intestinally producing intestinal secretary IgA antibodies (26).

The CFA/II vaccine has now been incorporated into poly(D,L lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres under Good Manufacturing Practices and tested under Good Laboratory Practices. The microspheres, are spherical, smooth surfaced and without pores. The majority (63%) are between 5-10 um in diameter by volume. This size range has been suggested to promote localization within the Peyer's patch in mice and perhaps enhance local immunization (29-32). The protein content being 1.174% is close to 1% which was the goal of the vaccine formulation. One percent was chosen because 0.62% was the core loading of the AF/R1 microspheres which were effective. Also a small precentage perhaps 1-5% (35) is anticipated to be taken up from the intestine, a higher protein content would lead to considerable loss of protein.

The organic residuals are of course a concern. Heptane exposure would be 1.7 mgm per vaccine dose. This is compared to the occupational maximum allowable exposure of 1800 mgm/15 min. Therefore, the heptane contained with the CFA/II microsphere vaccine appears to be a safe level. The acetonitiile is very low −0.1 mgm per vaccine dose. The human oral TDLO is 570 mgm\Kg (any non letheal toxicity). Therefore, the acetonitrile contained with the CFA/II microsphere vaccine appears to be at a safe level. The CFA/II vaccine was produced under sterile conditions. However, the process of incorporation of the desalted CFA/II vaccine into the polymer

The antibody secreting B-cells demonstrated in the rabbit spleen at 14 days is a clear indication that B-cells have been immunized. They may represent resident B-cells immunized in the spleen or B-cells immunized at the level of the Peyer's patches and are migrating through the spleen to return to the intestial mucosal lamina propria (1-3). The delay of several days before secreted antibody is detected suggests either manuration is required of the B-cells or that down regulation may be present initially and lost with time in culture.

Further evidence of immunization by the CFA/II microsphere vaccine given intra-duodenually is demonstrated by the lymphatic hyperplasia in the spleen seen to a greater extend in the rabbits receiving the lower dose 5/5 compared to 2/5 of the rabbits receiving the higher 50 ug protein dose. On the other hand, greater Tell dependent area lymphoytic hyperplasia in the mesenteric lymph nodes were seen in rabbits receiving the higher 50 ug dose, 4/5 compared to 2/5. These changes are most likely due to the vaccine since similar changes were not seen in three untreated control rabbits. Also no abnormal pathological changes attributable to the vaccine were seen.

The CFA/II BPM vaccine has undergone pre-clinical evaluation and has been found safe and immunogenic. This vaccine is ready for clinical Part I safety testing following FDA's IND approval.

Part III

In sum, alum precipitation, vaccination regimen and controlled delivery by microencapsulation were studied to determine what criteria must be satisfied to provide a protective immune response to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) after a single injection of vaccine. In m use studies, the 50% effective dose (ED₅₀) for the alum precipitated Heptavax B vaccine (Merck, Sharp and Dohme) was 3.8 ng when administered in a 3 injection regimen, but was 130 ng when one immunizing dose was used. Antigen release studies revealed that HBsAg is bound tightly to the alum, indicating that the antigen remains in situ scavenged by phagocytic cells. the ED₅₀ with a 3 dose regimen of aqueous HBsAg was 180 ng, a opposed to over 2000 ng for daily injections of low doses for 90 days and 240 ng for a regimen that employed initially high doses that decreased geometrically at 3 day intervals over 90 days. The ED₃₀ was 220 ng for a single dose regimen of HBsAg microencapsulated in poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) in a form that was too large to be phagocytized and had an antigen release profile similar to that achieved with the geometrically decreasing regimen of doses. This indicates that single injection of microencapsulated immunogens can achieve similar effects in vivo to those achieved with multiple dose regimens. For HBsAg the effect to be achieved appears to be 3 pulses of particulate immunogens that can be scavenged by phagocytes.

Introduction

A major disadvantage of inactivated vaccines lies in their inability to confer lasting immunity. Due to rapid elimination from the body, multiple doses and boosters are usually required for continued protection³⁷. Alum adjuvants, achieving their effects by mechanisms of antigen presentation and sustained antigen release³⁸, have been used successfully to increase the potency of several inactivated vaccines including those against tetanus, anthrax, and serum hepatitis^(39,40). Though useful, alum preparations are deficient in several aspects. Control over quantity and rate of antigen release is limited, often resulting in a continued requirement for immunization schedules consisting of multiple injections given over a period of several months to years. Alum adjuvants are also non-biodegradable and thus remain within the body, serving as a nidus for scar tissue formation³⁸ long after they have served their function.

Protracted, multiple immunization schedules are unacceptable during massive mobilization and deployment of troops. Changing global disease patterns and deployment of new biological warfare agents by enemy forces require flexibility in the number and types of vaccine antigen administered to soldiers departing for combat. Any immunization schedule requiring completion during engagement in non-linear combat would compromise this flexibility and place an unreasonable burden on our health care delivery system.

The main objective of this study was, therefore, to develop a biodegradable, controlled-release adjuvant system capable of eliminating the need for multistep vaccination schedules. This investigation was designed to: (1) determine in an animal model hepatitis B vaccine release rate characteristics desirable for single-step immunization, (2) incorporate those release rate characteristics into a one-step biodegradable poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (DL-PLG) microencapsulated hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) vaccine, and (3) conduct an in vivo trial comparing the effectiveness of this single-step vaccine against the conventional three-step hepatitis vaccine currently employed⁴¹. The results were intended to provide the foundation for further development of single step vaccines against hepatitis and other militarily significant diseases⁴².

Materials and Methods

Vaccine potency assay. Due to its availability, compatibility with cage mates, and potential application to the study of hepatitis B vaccine⁴³, the female Walter Reed (ICR) stain mouse was used. A hepatitis B vaccine potency assay for comparing the six-month immunization schedule currently in use⁴¹ with that of a single-step immunization by sustained antigen release was established according to the following protocol: Specimens for baseline antibody titers were collected from twenty mice by exsanguination. Immediately prior to exsanguination, all mice employed in this and other exsanguination procedures in these studies were anesthetized with a 0.1 ml injection of V-Pento. Groups of 12 mice were then immunized according to a schedule consisting of either 0.25 ug, 0.025 ug, 2.5 ng, 0.25 ng, 2.5 pg, or 0.25 pg Heptavax B vaccine (HBV) administered in 50 microliter volumes subcutaneously (s.c.) at the beginning and end of the first, and end of the second month of the protocol. Antibody responses to the vaccine were monitored immediately before the third injection and approximately one month after the third injection. Specimens for antibody determination were collected by exsanguination of seven anesthetized mice from each group and assayed along with the baseline samples by the Abbott Ausab radioimmunoassay. Percent seroconversion verses micrograms vaccine employed with calculated by the method of Reed and Muench⁴³. These data were employed to establish a mouse vaccine potency assay calibrated to detect differences between Heptavax B and other forms of hepatitis b vaccine.

In vitro n release rate from Heptavax a vaccine. Antigen release from aluminum hydroxide adjuvant in HBV was measured by pumping 2 cc per hour of 1:20,000 thimerosal in saline at 4° c. across a 0.2 u pore diameter Acrodisc filter apparatus containing 20 ug of vaccine. The effluent, collected by a Gilford fraction collector, was assayed periodically over several weeks for protein by UV absorption at 280 nm on a Beckman model 25 double beam spectrophotometer, and for HBsAg by the Abbot Ausria II radioimmunoassay made quantitative by using HBsAg standards supplied by Merk, Sharp, and Dohme. Accuracy of the HBsAg standards were verified by Biuret protein determination and by UV absorbance at 215 nm and 225 nm⁴⁴. Nonspecific antigen retention on the Acrodisc filter was assessed by measuring percent recovery of a known quantity of HBsAg. Spontaneous degradation of vaccine antigen was monitored by comparing daily rations of antigen to total protein detected in the effluent.

Evaluation of HBsAg stability. These studies were designed to characterize the stability of the aqueous antigen to the various physical conditions employed in the microencapsulation process. Conditions tested included lyophilization with reconstitution in distilled water, cyclohexane, methylene chloride, chloroform, methyl alcohol, acetone, iso-octane, hexane, acetone, pentane, or heptane; irradiation while lyophilized; and, exposure to elevated temperatures. Samples exposed to organic solvents were first lyophilized, reconstituted with the test solvent, evaporated to dryness under nitrogen at room temperature and reconstituted with distilled water. Test samples were compared against untreated controls by assaying serial dilutions of each with the Abbot Ausria II procedure and comparing the plots f counts per minute verses dilution.

Assessment of the effect of antigen release rate on vaccine potency. Three regimens simulating patterns of free HBsAg release that could be achieved by microencapsulation were contrasted with the three monthly dose regimen of Heptavax B for immunizing mice. To do so, 24 ICR mice were divided into groups and vaccinated as indicated below. Seven mice from each subgroup were exsanguinated at the end of the second and third months of the experiment. The sera were separated and assayed for specific antibody response to HBsAg by Abbot Ausab procedure.

HV regimen a: 14 mice/treatment receiving 3 s.c. injections of 250, 25, 2.5 or 0.25 ng doses of HBV a month apart.

HBsAg regimen a: 14 mice/treatment receiving 3 s.c. injections of 250, 25, 2.5 or 0.25 ng doses of aqueous HBsAg a month apart.

HBsAg regimen b: 14 mice/treatment receiving total doses of 750, 75, 7.5 or 0.75 ng of aqueous HBsAg over 3 months by s.c. injections of ZX_(Y) ng at 3 day intervals, where Z is the total dose, y is the injection number, and X is the fraction indicated on the graph in FIG. 1 minus the fraction for the previous injection.

HBsAg regimen c: 14 mice/treatment receiving daily s.c. injections of 8.33, 0.833, 0.0833 or 0.00833 ng of aqueous HBsAg for 3 months.

Microencapsulation in DL:PLG. Microencapsulated immunogens were fabricated by Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, Ala. DL-PLG polymers were synthesized from the cyclic diesters, DL lactide and glycolide, by using a ring-opening melt polymerization catalyzed by tetraphenyl tin⁴⁵. The resulting polymer was dissolved i methylene chloride, filtered free of insoluble contaminants and precipitated in methanol. Lactide-co-glycolide mole ration of the product was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Encapsulation of HBsAg in DL:PLG polymer was achieved by an organic phase separation process⁴⁶. Microcapsules of the desired size (approximately 100 micron diameter in these studies) were isolated from each batch by wet sieving with hexane through standard mesh stainless steel sieves and then dried for 24 hours in a vacuum chamber maintained at room temperature.

In vitro analysis of encapsulated antigens. Integrity of encapsulated antigen was assessed by comparing the antigen to total protein ratios present in microcapsule hydrolysates with those obtained from suspensions of pure unencapsulated antigen. Centrifuge tubes containing 1 ug of either microencapsulated or pure vaccine antigen in 1 ml saline were incubated at 4° c. with shaking. Samples were collected at weekly intervals by interrupting the incubation, sedimenting the contents of the tubes by centrifugation and withdrawing the supernates. Sediments were resuspended in 200 microliters of saline and supernates were assayed for HBsAg by the Abbott Ausria II radioimmunoassay. The HBsAg standard described earlier in this report was used as the calibrator. Antigen destruction due to the encapsulation procedure was monitored by a comparison between the antigen assayed from the hydrolysate and from the untreated antigen control.

Assessment of the potency of DL:PLG microencapsulated HBsAg for immunizing ICR mice when used alone and in combination with Heptavax B vaccine. HBsAg loaded microcapsules that had been fabricated by Southern Research Institute to release the majority of their HBsAg load within 40 to 50 days were serially diluted in 10-fold steps by mixing the dry, loaded capsules with blank placebo capsules of similar size and composition. The resulting stock and diluted microcapsule preparations were placed onto lyohilizer when not in use in order to assure minimum spontaneous degradation prior to injection. On the day of injection, a predetermined weight of microcapsules or placebo-diluted microcapsules was added to each syringe. Immediately prior to injection either one or two ml of injection vehicle (2 wt % carboxymethyl cellulose and 1 wt & Tween 240 in water, Southern Research Institute) were drawn into the microcapsule-loaded syringes, mixed and injected. All mice were vaccinated s.c. as indicated below:

Group 1: 14 mice/treatment receiving 25, 25, 2.5, 0.25 or 0.925 ng HBV.

Group 2: 14 mice/treatment receiving 1000, 250, 25 or 2.5 ng aqueous HBsAg with Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA).

Group 3: 7 mice receiving 1600 ng microencapsulated HBsAg (HBsAg) plus 0.25 ng HBV and 14 mice/treatment receiving 160, 16, 1.6 or 0.16 ng HBsAg plus 0.25 ng HBV.

Group 4: 7 mice receiving 1600 ng HBsAg plus 2.5 ng HBV and 14 mice/treatment receiving 160, 16, 1.6 or 0.16 ng HBsAg plus 2.5 ng HBV.

Group 5.: 7 mice receiving 1600 ng HBsAg plus 25 ng HBV and 14 mice/treatment receiving 160, 16, 1.6 or 0.16 ng HBsAg plus 25 ng NBV.

Group 6: 7 mice receiving 2500 ng HBsAg and 14 mice-treatment receiving 250, 25, 2.5 or 0.25 ng HBsAg. Fifty-three days after receiving the above injections, the mice were anesthetized with an 0.1 cc injection of V Pento and exsanguinated. Blood samples were allowed clot and the sera were separated by centrifugation. The serum samples were assayed for antibody to HBsAg by the Abbott Ausab procedure.

Results

Heptavax B vaccine potency. As can be seen from Table 4, the total dose of vaccine which produced seroconversion in 50% of

TABLE 12 Potency of Heptavax B vaccine in ICR mice. No. ng Heptavax B per Injection ED₅₀ Inj. 250 25 2.5 .25 .025 .0025 .00025 ng 2 5/5 4/4 3/6 2/6 0/5 1/4 0/4 1.7 3 6/6 6/6 4/6 1/6 0/6 1/6 1/6 2.0 *Number positive seroconversions per number vaccinated. The vaccinated mice (ED₅₀) for HBV was approximately 2 ng, whether the vaccine was given in 2 or 3 injections.

In vitro antigen release rate from HBV. HBsAg release from the 20 ug of Heptavax was not detected in any of the 21 fractions of saline collected from the Acrodisc polycarbonate filter over a 30 day period. The lower limit of detection for the Abbott Auria II assay employed was approximately 4.8 ng/ml. The Acrodisc filter used in the antigen release study was back-washed with 10 mls normal saline. Quantitation of the HBsAg present within this back-wash eluent revealed the presence of the original 40 ug of Heptavax vaccine which had been loaded into the filter at the start of the experiment. This is the concentration which one would expect to obtain if there had been no deterioration of the original 40 ug/ml HBsAg loaded onto the filter, none of the antigen eluted from the alum adjuvant, and none of the vaccine had adsorbed onto or passed through the filter.

Evaluation of antigen stability. Considerable effort was expended in assessing the effects of physical conditions on the antigenicity of HBsAg to insure that the conditions used for microencapsulation would not cause serious degradation of the immunogen. Since microencapsulation must be performed on dried materials which are suspended in organic solvents, the HBsAg, which was provided as a solution, had to be lyophilized. Initial attempts at lyophilizing HBsAg in normal saline resulted in a total loss of detectable antigen within samples. Dilution of the HBsAg sample 1:10 in distilled water prior to freezing resulted in reservation of nearly 100% of the antigen detectable in the original sample. Studies of antigen stability at elevated temperature revealed that HBsAg may be heated to 50° c. for up to one hour without appreciable loss of antigen. The studies involving exposure of lyophilized antigen to organic solvents indicated that iso-cane and hexane had minimal effects on antigenicity, but that 95% to 100% of antigenicity was lost upon exposure to either methylene chloride, chloroform, cyclohexane, or methyl alcohol. Moderate antigen loss occurred in the presence of acetone, pentane and heptane. As a result of these studies, hexane was chosen as the solvent for microencapsulation.

Assessment of the effect of antigen release rate on vaccine potency. The results (Table 13) indicated that immunogen formation (i.e., the alum adjuvant of Heptavax B) had far more

TABLE 13 Effect of immunogen formulation and vaccination regimen on potency for immunizing ICR mice. Immunogen ng Total Dose HBsAg ED₅₀ Formulation Regiment 750 75 7.5 .75 ng Heptavax B a  7/7* 6/6 5/7 1/7 3.8 Aqu. HBsAg a 4/6 3/7 0/7 0/6 180 Aqu. HBsAg b 6/7 0/7 1/7 0/7 240 Aqu. HBsAg c 1/7 0/7 0/7 0/7 >2000 *Number positive seroconversions per number vaccinated. a 3 injections of 1/3 total dose a month apart. b Injections administered every three days for 90 days in decreasing dosages according to a logarithmic progression. c Injections of 1/90 total dose daily for 90 days. effect on potency than did the vaccination regimen, and that pulsing with large doses of immunogen was more effective than continuous administration of small doses.

HBsAg release from DL:PLG microcapsules. The microcapsules employed in this study were designed to disintegrate within three weeks after hydration. It is evident from the release curve (FIG. 10) that they performed as designed, releasing approximately 17% of their total load in an initial pulse and approximately 7% of the remaining available HBsAg over the first three

Assessment of the potency of DL:PLG microencapsulated HBsAg for immunizing ICR mice when used alone and in combination with Heptavax B vaccine. The results (Table 14) indicate that the microencapsulated HBsAg had approximately the same immunogenicity as did the Heptavax B. Neither immunogens were sufficiently potent to effect with a singly injection seroconversion rates similar to those achieved after three injections of Heptavax B (Table 12). Only the immunogen

TABLE 14 Potencies of Heptavax B and microeocapsulated HBsAg by single injection S.C. when administered alone and in combination to immunize ICR mice. Var. Dose ng Immun- Const. Var. Tot. ogen mHB- ng Variable Dose Dose Dose Dose sAg 2500 250 25 2.5 .25 ED₅₀ ng ED_(50 ng) Hepta- 0 13/  8/14 4/14 0/13 130 130 vax B 14* Hepta- 0.16 11/13 4/14 1/14 1.7 1.8 vax B Hepta- 1.6 10/13 1/14 0/13 100 100 vax B Hepta- 16  3/14 1/14 1/14 >470 >490 vax B Hepta- 160  3/12 2/11 1/12 >370 >530 vax B Hepta- 1600 7/7 7/7  7/7  <0.8 1600 vax B Mic. 0 3/6  6/15 1/13 2/10 2/14 220 220 HBsAg *Number positive seroconversions per number vaccinated. combination of Heptavax B with 0.16 ng mHGsAg provided this level of seroconversion. At the ED₅₀ endpoint, the 0.16 ng dose f mHGsAg is approximately 10% of the total dose. Similarly, a small amount of Heptavax B appeared to enhance the immunogenicity of the microencapsulated immunogen, although the combination was clearly less immunogenic when the two formulations were-present at equivalent concentrations.

Discussion

The potential advantage of microcapsules lies in their ability to be programmed during fabrication into forms that have quite difference release profiles, including slow and steady release, multiple bursts of antigen over a period of time, or combinations of release forms. Sieving allows choice of microcapsule size, and the ability of DL-PLG to sequester antigen from the host's immune system until release occurs enhances control over exposure of the recipient's immune system to antigen over a sustained period of time. These characteristics provided the impetus for these studies as they indicate potential for achieving the effects of a multiple injection regimen by controlling release in vivo after a single injection.

The results of these studies are important for gaining an under standing of the fundamental differences between the manner in which alum and microcapsules interact with the immune system. The antigen release studies showed that alum firmly bound the antigen on its surface, whereas the microcapsules sequestered the antigen load within the interstices of an immunologically inert polymer. Release of antigen from microcapsules was spontaneous and gradual while antigen release from alum wa probably enzymatically mediated within host macrophages. Alumthus performed at least two useful functions as an adjuvant: by bearing its entire load of antigen upon its surface, it provided a large single exposure of antigen to the host; and, by being readily phagocytized by host macrophages, it served as a means of targeting the antigen to the immune system.

In order for microcapsules to be efficacious as a vaccine delivery system, a means of incorporating the two properties common to alum adjuvant must be devised. These properties, which where discussed above, are targeting antigen to the immune system and delivering the antigen load in a single concentrated pulse at its target. A gradual, sustained release of free antigen, as was achieved with the 100 micron microcapsules used in these studies, could be expected to elicit an immune response similar to that seen with either regimen b or regimen c (Table 13), where multiple injections of small doses were employed. In fact, as shown in Table 11, the microencapsulated immunogen elicited a response similar to that achieved with regimen b. This is probably due to the fact that the microcapsules release approximately 10% of their antigenic load immediately after injection.

Microcapsules with extended release patterns tend to be large (>10 microns in diameter) and thus fail to be readily phagocytized. In order for the larger microcapsules with prolonged antigen release characteristics to be efficacious, the antigen eventually released from those microcapsules would have be in a form which targeted and concentrated it within the recipient's immune system. This might be effectively achieved by microencapsulation of antigen coated alum or by microencapsulating clusters of smaller (<10 microns) microcapsules.

Microcapsules under 10 microns in diameter tend to be readily phagocytized and also tend to under go rapid spontaneous degradation due to their high surface to volume ratio. These smaller microcapsules would be well suited for eliciting a primary response if their pulse of antigen release could be programmed to occur after phagocytosis.

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A method for quantifying particle absorption from     the samlL intestine of the mouse. Pharm. Res. 1990, 7, 848-851. -   36. Levine, M. M., Ristaino, P., Morley, G., Smyth, C., Knutton, S.,     Boedeker, E., Black, R., Young, C., Clements, M. L. Cheney, C., and     Patnaik, R. Coli surface antigens. 1 and 3 colonization: Morphology,     purification, and immune responses in humans. Infect, Immun, 1984,     44, 409-420. -   37. Spector, S. A. 1981. Immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy, pp     770-793. In: Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. A. I.     Braude (editor), W.B. Sauders Company, Philadelphia. -   38. Jolles, P., and A. Paraf. 1973. Aluminum adjuvants in human     sensitization. pp 106-108. In: Chemical basis if adjuvants,     molecular biology, biochemistry, and biophysics, Volume 13. A. K.     Kleinzeller, G. F. Springer, and H. G. Wiliman (editors),     Springer-Veilag, Berlin. -   39. Brackman, P. S., and F. R. Fekety, 1958. Industrial anthrax.     Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 70:575-584. -   40. Maupas, P., A. Goudeau, P. Coursaget, J. Drucker, and P.     Bagros. 1978. Hepatitis B vaccine efficacy in high risk settings, a     two year study. Intervirol. 10:196-208. -   41. Merck, Sharp, and Dohme. Heptavax-B Vaccine package insert. 6.     Dean, J. A., and A. J. Ognibene. 1982. Hepatitis. pp 419-441. In:     Medical Department; United States Army Internal Medicine in vietnam,     Vol II: General Medicine and Infectious Disease. A. J. Ognibene, O     Brrett (editors), Office of the Surgeon General and Center of     Military History, Wash. D.C. -   42. Gerety, R. J. 1979. Hews from the National Institute of Allergy     and Infectious Diseases: Summary of an international workshop on     Hepatitus B vaccines. J. Infect. Dis. 140:642-648. -   43. Reed, J. J., Muench, H. 1939. A simple method of estimating     fifty percent endpoints. Amer. J. Hyg. 27:493-497. -   44. Bradford, M. 1976. A rapid an sensitive method for the     quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the     pracile of protein-dye binding. Anal. Biochem. 72:248-254. -   45. Jackanicy, T. M, et al. 1983. Polylactic acid as a biodegradable     carrier for contraccptive steroids. Contraception 8:227-234. -   11. Kulkarni, R. K., E. G. Morre, A. F. Hegyeli, and F.     Leonard. 1971. Biodegradable poly (lactic acid) polymers. J. Biomed.     Mater. Res. 5:169-181. -   46. Cutright D. E., P. Bienvenido, J. Beasley, III, W. T. Larson,     and W. R. Posey. 1974. Degrdation rates of polymers and copolymers     and polyglycolic acids. Oral Surg. 37:142-152.

Phase III

This phase of the invention relates to providing novel biocompatible and biodegradable microspheres for burst-free programmable sustained release of biologically active agents, inclusive of polypeptides, over a period of up to 100 days in an aqueous physiological environment. Potentially release period is capable of being further modulated beyond 100 days to about 365 days by careful selection of a blend of uncapped and end-capped biodegradable-biocompatible copolymer and molecular weights.

Several publications and patents are available for sustained release of active agents from biodegradable polymers, particularly, poly(lactide/glycolides) (PLGA). Prior usages of PLGA for controlled release of polypeptides have involved the use of molar ratios of lactide/glycolide (L/G) of 75/25 to 100/0 for molecular weights<20,000. Further prior art preparations of PLGA utilized fillers or additives in the inner aqueous layer to improve the stability and encapsulation efficency and/or to increase the viscosity of the aqueous layer, thereby modulating polymer hydrolysis and the biologically active agent or polypeptide release.

In addition, the prior art use of PLGA copolymers were end-capped, in that the terminal carboxyl end groups were blocked. In these end-capped co-polymers, the microcapsule preparations exhibited a low to moderate burst release of ˜10-40% of the entrapped polypeptide in the first 24 hours after placement in an aqueous physiological environment. In part, these characteristics are due to the use of fillers in the inner aqueous phase. Further, a 1-month release of polypeptide is known with the use of a 75/25 co-polymer of PLGA of Mw<20,000.

Investigations in controlled release research has been proceeding especially to obtain a 1 to 2 month delivery system for biologically active agents or polypeptides using poly(lactide/glycolide) polymers. However, most of these systems have one or more of the following problems: Poor encapsulation efficency and large ‘burst release’ followed by an intermediate ‘no release’ or ‘lag phase’0 until the polymer degrades. In general, release from these polymers occur over a period from about 4 weeks to about several months. In addition, in order to achieve this release a 50/50 copolymer of MW>30,000 or a 75/25 copolymer of Mw >10,00 are employed which often results in residual polymer remaining at the site of administration long after the release of active core.

This invention provides biocompatible and biodegradable microspheres that have been designed for novel, burst free, programmable sustained release of biologically active agents, including polypeptides over a period of up to 100 days in an aqueous physiological environment.

Unlike currently available release systems, which rely on the use of fillers/additives such as gelatin, albumin, dextran, pectin, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol, sugars, etc., and are still prone to low encapsulation efficiencies and “burst effects”, this invention achieves high encapsulation and “burst-free” release without the use of any additive. In this invention, burst-free, programmable sustained release is achieved through the use of a unique blend of the ‘uncapped’ and end-capped forms of poly(lactide/glycolide) polymer in the molecular weight range of 2,000 to 60,000 daltons.

In general, microspheres described in this invention are produced by a unique emulsification technique wherein an inner water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion is stabilized by dispersing in a solvent-saturated aqueous phase containing an emulsion stabilizer. A ternary w/o/w emulsion is then formed by emulsifying the above w/o emulsions in an external pre-cooled aqueous phase containing an o/w emulsifier. Essentially, the inner w/o emulsion is comprised of an aqueous layer containing from ˜2 to about 20% (w/w) of the active agent to be entrapped and an oil layer containing poly(lactide/glycolide) copolymer in concentrations ranging from ˜5 to about—50% (w/w oil phase). The copolymer includes molecular weight ranging from 2,000 to about 60,000 daltons, with molar composition of lactide/glycolide from 90/10 to 40/60 and a blend of its uncapped and end-capped forms in a ratio of 100/0 to 1/99. Very high encapsulation efficiencies of about 80 to 100% are achieved depending on polymer molecular weight and structural form.

Programmable release of active core over variable durations between 1-100 days is achieved by a judicious selection of process parameters such as polymer concentration, peptide concentration and the aqueous/oil phase ratio.

This invention is particularly suitable for high encapsulation efficiencies and burst-free, continuous programmable release of polypeptides of molecular weights ranging from 1,000 to about 250,000 daltons, and also other biologically active agents over a period of 1-100 days. A uniqueness of the invention is that when using a 100/0 blend of the uncapped and capped polymer, the final phase of active core release is concurrent with the complete solubilization of the polymer to innocuous components, such as lactic and glycolic acids. This is a significant advantage over the currently available 30 day release systems wherein a major regulatory concern is about toxicity of residual polymer at the site of administration, long

This invention relates to the design of biocompatible and biodegradable microspheres for novel, programmable sustained release of biologically active agents, including polypeptides over a period of up to 100 days in an aqueous physiological environment with little or no burst release.

Unlike currently available release systems which rely on the use of fillers/additives such as gelatin, albumin, dextran, pectin, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol, sugars, etc., and are still prone to low encapsulation efficiencies and “burst effects”, this invention achieves high encapsulation efficiency after release of the active core.

The microcapsules described in this invention are suitable for administration via several routes such as parenteral (intramuscular, subcutaneous), oral, topical, nasal, rectal and vaginal routes. and ‘burst-free’ release without the use of any additive. In this invention, burst-free, programmable sustained release is achieved through the use of a unique blend of the ‘uncapped’ and end-capped forms of poly (lactide/glycolide) polymer.

The ‘uncapped’ form refers to “poly(lactide/glycolide) with free carboxyl end groups” which renders the polymer more hydrophilic compared to the routinely used end-capped form. Currently used ‘end-capped’ polymer hydrates between 4-12 weeks depending on the molecular weight, resulting in an intermediate ‘no release’ or a ‘lag phase’. The uncapped polymer hydrates typically between 5 to 60 days depending on the molecular weight, thus releasing its core continuously without a lag phase. A careful blend of the two forms and appropriate molecular weights and L/G ratios, results in a continuous release between 1 to 100 days. In addition, release within this time is programmable by a judicious selection of process parameters such as polymer concentration, peptide concentration and the aqueous/oil phase ratio.

The coploymer in this invention includes molecular weight ranging from 2,000 to 60,000 daltons, a lactide/glycolide ratio of 90/10 to 40/60 and a blend of the uncapped/capped forms in the ratio of 100/0 to 1/99. The molecular weight of the polypeptide may be in the range of 1000 to 250,000 daltons while that of other biologically active agents may range from 100 to 100,000 daltons.

Microcapsules described in this invention are prepared by a unique aqueous emulsification techinique which has been developed for use with the uncapped polymer to provide superior sphere morphology, sphere integrity and narrow size distribution. This is accomplished by first preparing an inner water-in-oil (w/o) by mixing the solutions of polymer in an organic solvent such as methylene chloride and the biologically active agent in water. This is followed by stabilization of the w/o emulsion in a solvent-saturated aqueous solution containing an o/w emulsifier such as polyvinyl alcohol. A ternary emulsion is then formed by emulsifying the w/o emulsion in an external aqueous phase containing the same emulsifier as above at concentrations ranging from 0.25-1% w/v. Microcapsules are hardened upon solvent removal by evaporation, rinsed to remove residual emulsifier and lyophilized. Low temperature is used both at the time of primary emulsification (w/o emulsion formation) and during the formation of the final w/o/w emulsion to achieve stable emulsion and superior sphere characteristics.

In the context of the invention, a biologically active agent is any water-soluble hormone drugs, antibiotics, antitumor agents, antiinflammatory agents, antipyretics, analgesics, antitussives, expectorants, sedatives, muscle relaxants, antiepileptics, antiulcer agents, antidepressants, antiallergic drugs, cardiotonics, antiarrhythmic drugs, vasodilators, antihypertensives, diuretics, anticoagulants, antinarcotics, and the agents listed in the summary of the invention section herein

More precisely, applicants have discovered a pharmaceutical composition and process with the following itemized features:

1. A controlled release microcapsule pharmaceutical formulation, which may contain a pharmaceutically-acceptable adjuvant, for burst-free, sustained, programmable release of a biologically active agent over a duration from 1-100 days, comprising an active agent and a blend of uncapped and end-capped biodegradable poly(lactide/glycolide).

2. The pharmaceutical formulation of item 1, wherein the biodegradable poly(lactide/glycolide) is a blend of uncapped and capped forms, in ratios ranging from 100/0 to 1/99.

3. The microcapsules of items 1 or 2 wherein the copolymer (lactide to glycolide L/G) ratio for uncapped and end-capped polymer is 52/48 to 48/52.

4. The microcapsules of items 1 or 2 wherein the copolymer L/G ratio for uncapped and end-capped polymer is 90/10 to 40/60.

5. The microcapsules of items 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 wherein the molecular weight of the copolymer is between 2,000-60,000 daltons.

6. The microcapsules of items 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 wherein the biologically active agent is a peptide or polypeptide.

7. The microcapsules of item 6, wherein said polypeptide is histatin consisting of 12 amino acids and having a molecular weight of 1563.

8. The microcapsules of items 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 characterized by the capacity to completely release histatin in an aqueous physiological environment from 1-35 days with a 100/0 blend of uncapped and end-capped poly(lactide/glycolide) having a L/G ratio of 48/52 to 52/48, and a molecular weight<15,000.

9. The microcapsules of items 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 characterized by the capacity to completely release histatin in an aqueous physiological environment from 18-40 days with a 100/0 blend of uncapped and end-capped poly(lactide/glycolide) having a L/G ratio of 48/52 to 52/48 and a molecular weight range of 28,000-40,000.

10. The microcapsules of items 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 characterized by the capacity to release up to 90% of the histatin in an aqueous physiological environment from 28-70 days with a 0/100 blend of uncapped and end-capped poly(lactide/glycolide) having a L/G ratio of 48/52 to 52/48 and a molecular weight range of 10,000-40,000 daltons.

11. The microcapsules of items 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 characterized by the capacity to release up to 80% of histatin in an aqueous physiological environment from 56-100 days with a 0/100 blend of uncapped and end-capped poly(lactide/glycolide) having a L/G ratio of 75/25 and a molecular weight of <15,000 daltons.

12. The microcapsules of items 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 having analogs of histatin with chain lengths of from 11-24 amino acids of molecular weights from 1,500-3,000 daltons and characterized by the following structures:

-   -   1. DSHAKRHHGYKRKFHEKHHSHRGY (SEQ ID NO: 1)     -   2. KRHHGYKRKFHEKHHSHRGYR (SEQ ID NO: 2)     -   3. KRHHGYKRKFHEKHHSHR (SEQ ID NO: 3)     -   4. RKFHEKHHSHRGYR (SEQ ID NO: 4)     -   5. AKRHHGYKRKFH (SEQ ID NO: 5)     -   6. *AKRHHGYKRKFH     -   7. KRHHGYKRKF (SEQ ID NO: 6)         -   *D-amino acid

13. The microcapsules of items 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 wherein the biologically active agent is a polypeptide Leutinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) that is a decapeptide of molecular weight 1182 in its acetate form, and having the structure:

-   -   p-EHWSYGLRPG (SEQ ID NO: 7)

14. The microcapsule of items 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 having a molecular weight of from 1,000 to 250,000 daltons.

15. The microcapsules of items 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14 wherein release profiles of variable rates and durations are achieved by blending uncapped and capped microspheres as a cocktail in variable amounts.

16. The microcapsules of items 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14 wherein release of profiles of variable rates and duration are achieved by blending uncapped and capped polymer in different ratios within the same microshreres.

17. The microcapsules of items 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14 or 15 or 16 wherein the entrapped polypeptide is any of the vaccine agents against enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) such as CFA/I,CFA/II,CS1,CS3, CS6 and CS17 and other ETEC-related enterotoxins.

18. The microcapsules of items 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14 or 15 or 16 or 17 wherein the entrapped polypeptide consists of peptide antigens of molecular weight range of about 800-5000 daltons for immunization against enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC).

19. The microcapsules of items 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 wherein said biologically active agents are selected from the group consisting of water-soluble hormone drugs, antibiotics, antitumor agents, anti inflammatory agents, antipyretics, analgesics, lantitussives, expectorants, sedatives, muscle relaxants, antiepileptics, antiulcer agents, antidepressants, antiallergic drugs, cardiotonics, antiarrhythmic drugs, vasodilators, antihypertensives, diuretics, anticoagulants, and antinarcotics, in the molecular weight range of 100-100,000 daltons.

20. The microcapsules of items 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 wherein said biodegradable poly(lactide/glycolide) is in an oil phase, and is present in about 1-50% (w/w).

21. The microcapsules of items 1 or 2 or 3 or 4or 5 or 6 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14 or 15 or 16 or 17 wherein concentration of the active agent is in the range of 0.1 to about 60% (w/w).

22. The microcapsules of items 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14 or 15 or 16 or 17 wherein a ratio of the inner aqueous to oil phases is about 1/4 to 1/40(v/v).

23. A process for preparing controlled release microcapsule formulations characterized by burst-free, sustained, programmable release of biologically active agents comprising: Dissolving biodegradable poly (lactide/glycolide), in uncapped form in methylene chloride, and dissolving a biologically active agent or active core in water; adding the aqueous layer to the polymer solution and emulsifying to provide an inner water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion; stabilizing the w/o emulsion in a solvent-saturated aqueous phase containing a oil-in-water (o/w) emulsifier; adding said w/o emulsion to an external aqueous layer containing oil-in-water emulsifier to form a ternary emulsion; and stirring the resulting water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) emulsion for sufficient time to remove said solvent, and rinsing hardened microcapsules with water and lyophilizing said hardened microcapsules.

24. A process for preparing controlled release microcapsule formulations characterized by burst-free, sustained, programmable release of biologically active agents comprising:

-   -   dissolving biodegradable poly(lactide/glycolide) in end-capped         form in methylene chloride, and dissolving a biologically active         agent or active core in water; adding the aqueous layer to the         polymer solution and emulsifying to provide an inner         water-in-oil emulsion; stabilizing the w/o emulsion in a         solvent-saturated aqueous phase containing a oil-in-water (o/w)         emulsifier; adding said w/o emulsion to an external aqueous         layer containing oil-in-water emulsifier to form a ternary         emulsion; and stirring a resulting water-in-oil-water (w/o/w)         emulsion for sufficient time to remove said solvent; and rinsing         hardened microcapsules with water; and lyophilizing said         hardened microcapsules.

25. The process of items 23 or 24 wherein a solvent-saturated external aqueous phase is added to emulsify the inner w/o emulsion prior to addition of the external aqueous layer, to provide microcapsules of narrow size distribution range between 0.05-500 μm.

26. The process of items 23 or 24, wherein a low temperature of about 0-4° C. is provided during preparation of the inner w/o emulsion, and a low temperature of about 4-20° C. is provided during preparation of the w/o/w emulsion to provide a stable emulsion and high encapsulation efficiency.

27. The process of items wherein a 100/0 blend of uncapped and end-capped polymer is used to provide release of the active core in a continous and sustained manner without a lag phase.

28. The microcapsules of items 6, wherein, when the entrapped polypeptide is active at a low pH, such as LHRH, adrenocorticotropic hormone, epidermal growth factor, calcitonin released polypeptide is bioactive.

29. The microcapsules of items 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11, wherein, when entrapped peptide such as histatin is inactive at a low pH, a pH-stabilizing agent of inorganic salts are added to the inner aqueous phase to maintain biological activity of the released peptide.

30. The microcapsules of items 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 wherein, when entrapped polypeptide such as histatin is inactive at a low pH, a non-ionic surfactant such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters (Tween 80, Tween 60 and Tween 20) and polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymers (Pluronics) is added to the inner aqueous phase to maintain biological activity of the released polypeptide.

31. The microcapsules of items 29, wherein placebo spheres loaded with the pH-stabilizing agents are coadministered with polypeptide-loaded spheres to maintain the solution pH around the microcapsules and preserve the biological activity of the released peptide in instances where the addition of pH-stabilizing agents in the inner aqueous phase is undesirable for the successful encapsulation of the acid pH sensitive polypeptide.

32. The microcapsules of item 30 wherein placebo spheres loaded with non-ionic surfactant are coadministered with polypeptide-loaded spheres to maintain biological activity of the released peptide where the addition of non-ionic surfactants in the inner aqueous phase is undesirable for successful encapsulation of the acid pH sensitive polypeptide.

33. The microcapsules of items 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14 or 15 or 16 or 17 comprising a blend of uncapped and capped polymer, wherein complete solubilization or the copolymer leaves no residual polymer at the site of administration and occurs concurrently with the complete release of the entrapped agent.

34. A process of using microcapsules of items 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14 or 15 or 16 or 17 or 18 or 19 or 20 for human administration via parenteral routes, such as intramuscular and subcutaneous.

35. A process of using microcapsules of items 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14 or 15 or 16 or 17 or 18 or 19 or 20 for human administration via topical route.

36. A process of using microcapsules of items 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14 or 15 or 16 or 17 or 18 or 19 or 20 for human administration via oral routes.

37. A process of using microcapsules of items 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14 or 15 or 16 or 17 or 18 or 19 or 20 for human admininstration via nasal, transdermal, rectal, and vaginal routes.

Conservation of Bioactivity of Polypeptides

As the polymer degrades rapidly, there is a precipitous drop in pH accompanied by the release of soluble oligomers in the microenvironment which may affect the biological activity of acid pH-sensitive peptides/proteins. In such instances, biological activity can be maintained by the use of inorganic salts or buffering agents in the inner aqueous phase codissolved with the peptide.

The following unique advantages are characteristics of this invention:

1. Burst-free, prolonged, sustained release of polypeptides and other biologically-active agents from biocompatible and biodegradable microcapsules up to 100 days in an aqueous physiological environment without the use of additives in the core.

2. Release of active core programmable for variable durations over 1-100 days, by using a blend of uncapped and capped polymer of different molecular weights and copolymer ratio, and by manipulating the process parameters.

3. Complete release of the active core is concurrent with complete solubilization of the carrier polymer to innocuous components, such as lactic and glycolic acids, especially when using a 100/0 blend of uncapped/capped polymer. This is of tremendous significance, as most biodegradable polymers currently used for 1-30 day delivery, do not degrade completely at the end of the intended release duration, thereby causing serious concern of regulatory authorities on the effects of residual polymer at the site of administration.

4. Ease of administration of the microcapsules in various dosage forms via several routes, such as parenteral (intramuscular and sucutaneous), oral, topical, nasal, vaginal, etc.

The hydrophilic homo- and co-polymers based on D,L-lactide, and glycolide contains hydrophilic adjusted homo- and co-polymers with free carboxylic end groups, and is characterized by the formula:

wherein Z=Molecular Weight/130; for example Z=92 for Mw 12,000 and 262 for Mw 34,000.

While the molar ratio of the lactide to glycolide may vary, it is most preferred that the lactide to glycolide copolymer ratio be 50:50.

Reference is now made to FIG. 48 which depicts a blood-drug concentration versus time graph that shows conventional drug administration using a series of dosages compared to an ideal controlled release system. Unfortunately, many drugs have a blending of the two forms in a single formulation comprising different ratios of uncapped to capped polymer, would significantly influence the polymer hydration and hence release of the active core thereby providing release curves of any desirable pattern. Manipulation of polymer hydration and degradation resulting in modulation of release of active core is achieved by the addition of uncapped polymer to end-capped polymer in amounts as low as 1% up to 100%.

While referring to Table 14 in conjunction with FIG. 50, it can be seen that the cumulative Histatin release from PLGA microspheres from several batches prepared using 50/50 and 75/25 uncapped and end-capped, polymer modulates release between 1 to 100 days by varying the process parameters. 1-35 days by uncapped 50/50, 18-56 days by capped 50/50 and 56-100 days by capped 75/25.

In referring to FIG. 51, a view is provided through a scanning electron micrograph of PLGA microspheres designed for a one to two month release system prepared using end-capped polymer of Mw 30-40k daltons.

FIG. 52 depicts the cumulative Histatin release from PLGA microspheres, in which the release profiles are from several batches prepared using 50/50, uncapped and capped polymer, and varying the process parameters to modulate release between 28 to 60 days.

FIG. 53 represents cumulative Histatin release from PLGA microspheres—these combined release profiles are from several batches prepared using 50/50 uncapped and capped polymer, and varying the process parameters to modulate release between 1-60 days.

In the context of the invention, a biologically active agent is any water-soluble antibiotics, antitumor agents, antipyretics analgesics, anti-inflammatory agents, antitussives, expectorants, sedatives, muscle relaxants, anti epileptics, antiulcer agents, anti-depressants, anti-allergic drugs, cardiotonics, antiarrhythmics drugs, vasodilators, antihypertensives, diuretics, anticoagulants, hormone drugs, anti-narcotics, etc.

In general, “burst free” sustained release delivery of biologically active agents from PLGA microspheres is accomplished in the context of this invention using of 90/10 to 40/60 molar ratios, and ratios of uncapped polymer to end-capped polymer of 100/0 to 1/99.

In general, the approaches for designing the biologically active agents encapsulated in the uncapped and combination uncapped/end-capped PLGA microspheres and characteristics of these encapsulants are briefly set forth below as follows:

1. Providing PLGA microspheres of surface morphologies using 50/50 uncapped and capped polymers of Mw˜8-40K daltons as shown in FIGS. 49 and 51.

2. Providing in vitro release of a polypeptide, Histatin from PLGA microspheres, as shown in FIGS. 50 and 52 using uncapped and capped polymer of Mw˜8-40K daltons and molar ratios such as 50/50 and 75/25.

For example, design of a 1-12 week bioactive compound release system is achieved using PLGA with the following specifications:

1. Polymer molecular weight:

-   -   about 2-60K daltons

2. Copolymer molar ratio (L/G):

-   -   90/10 to 40/60

3. Polymer end groups:

-   -   uncapped and/or end-capped         and combining judiciously within the following parameters:

4. Polymer concentration

-   -   from 5 to 50%

5. Inner aqueous to oil phase ratio:

-   -   1:5 to 1:20 (v/v)

6. Peptide loads:

-   -   from 2 to about 40% (w/w polymer)         and by using the unique aqueous emulsification method described         in the invention.

The uniqueness and novelty of invention may generally be summarized in a brief way as follows:

1. Use of uncapped poly(lactide/glycolide) to achieve burst-free, continuous, sustained, programmable release of biologically active agents over 1-100 days.

2. Use of a unique aqueous emulsification system to achieve superior microsphere characteristics such as uniform sphere morphology and narrow size distribution.

3. Burst-free, prolonged, sustained release of polypeptides and other biologically actice agents from biocompatible and biodegradable microcapsules up to 100 days in an aqueous physiological environment without the use of additives in the inner core.

4. Release of active core programmable for variable durations over 1-100 days by using a blend of uncapped and capped polymer for different molecular weights and copolymer rations and manipulating the process parameters.

5. Complete release of the active core concurrent with complete solubilization of carrier polymer to innocuous components such as lactic and glycolic acids, especially when using a 100/0 blend of uncapped/capped polymer. This is of tremendous significance as most biodegradable polymers currently in use for 1-30 day delivery, do not degrade completely at the end of the intended release duration causing serious concern for regulatory authorities on the effects of residual polymer at the site of administration.

6. Ease of administration of the microcapsules in various dosages forms via several routes such as parenteral (intramusclar and subcutaneous), oral, topical, nasal, vaginal, etc.

The following examples are illustrative of, but not limitations upon the microcapsule compositions pertaining to this invention.

Example 12

Polylactide/glycolide (PLGA) microcapsules are prepared by a unique aqueous emulsification technique which has been developed for use with the uncapped polymer to provide superior sphere morphology, sphere integrity and narrow size distribution (See FIGS. 32 and 32 a). This is accomplished by dissolving the polymer in a chlorinated hydrocarbon solv nt such as methylene chloride and dissolving the biologically active agent in water. A w/o emulsion is then formed by mixing the solutions of polymer and the active agent by sonication, followed by emulsion stabilization in a solvent-saturated aqueous solution containing polyvinyl alcohol. A ternary emulsion is then formed by emulsifying the w/o emulsion in an external, pre-cooled aqueous phase containing polyvinyl alcohol (0.25-1% w/v). Microcapsules are hardened upon removal of solvent by evaporation, rinsed to remove any residual emulsifier, and then lyophilized.

Table 14 lists the microcapsule compositions, Nos. 1-21 thus prepared, consisting of a biologically active polypeptide, Histatin (composed of 12 amino acids and a molecular weight of 1563) and blends of uncapped and capped polymer of ratios 100/0 to 1/99, and having a lactide/glycolide ratio of 90/10 to 40/60, and a molecular weight range between 2000 to 60,000 daltons.

Example 13

Microcapsule compositions are prepared as described in Example 1 wherein the copolymer L/G ratio is 48/52 to 52/48, and the ratio of uncapped/capped polymer is 100/0. The active core is Histatin (Mw 1563), the polymer molecular weight is <15,000 and the polymer concentrations vary from 7% to ˜40% w/w. Compositions 1, 2, 4 12-14 and 16-18 are listed in Table 14.

Release profiles of the active core from the compositions in an aqueous physiological environment, such as phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.0 maintained at 37±1° C. are plotted as cumulative percentage release versus time, and presented in FIG. 50.

Burst-free, variable release from 1-35 days is achieved by varying the polymer concentration from 7 to ˜40% w/w in the oil phase.

Example 14

Microcapsule compositions are prepared as described in Example 2, wherein the aqueous/oil ratio is varied from 1/4 to 1/20 (v/v). Compositions 1, 2, 4 and 12 are listed in Table 14.

Release profiles of the active core from the compositions in an aqueous physiological environment described in Example are plotted as cumulative percentage release versus time, and presented in FIG. 50.

Burst-free, continuous release from 1-35 days, with different onset and completion times are achieved by selecting different w/o ratios in the inner core.

Example 15

Microcapsule compositions are prepared as described in Example 2, wherein the polymer molecular weight is 28,000-40,000 and polymer concentrations vary from 5% to ˜15% w/w. Compositions 19-21 are listed in Table 14.

Release profiles of the active core from the compositions in an aqueous physiological environment are described in Example 2 are plotted as cumulative percentage release versus time and presented in FIG. 52.

Burst-free, variable release from 18-40 days is achieved by varying the polymer concentration.

Example 16

Microcapsule compositions are prepared as described in Example 2, wherein the ratio of uncapped/capped polymer is 1/99 and polymer concentrations vary between 5% to ˜12% w/w. Compositions 10 and 11 are listed in Table 14.

Release profiles of the active core from the compositions in an aqueous physiological environment are described in Example 2, and plotted as cumulative percentage release versus time and presented in FIG. 50.

Burst-free, variable release from 28-70 days is achieved by varying the polymer concentration in the oil phase.

Example 17

Microcapsule compositions are prepared as described in Example 5, wherein polymer molecular weight is 28,000-40,000 and polymer concentrations vary between 5% to ˜12% w/w Compositions 5 and 6 are listed in Table 14.

Release profiles of the active core from the compositions in an aqueous physiological environment are described in Example 2 and are plotted as cumulative percentage release versus time, and presented in FIG. 52.

Burst-free, variable release from 28-70 days is achieved by varying the polymer concentration.

Example 18

Microcapsule compositions are prepared as described in Example 6, wherein the aqueous/oil ratio varies between 1/5 to 1/25 (v/v) compositions 3 and 7 are listed in Table 14.

Release profiles of the active core from the compositions in an aqueous physiological environment are described in Example 2, and plotted as cumulative percentage release versus time, and presented in FIG. 52

Burst-free, variable release from 28-70 days is achieved by varying the aqueous/oil ratios.

Example 19

Microcapsule compositions are prepared as described in Example 5, wherein the copolymer ratio is 75/25 and polymer concentrations vary between 5% to ˜25% w/w. Compositions 8 and 9 are listed in Table 1.

Release profiles of the active core from the compositions in an aqueous physiological environment are described in Example 2, and are plotted as cumulative percentage release versus time, and presented in FIG. 50.

Burst-free, variable release from 56−>90 days is achieved by varying the polymer concentration in the oil phase.

Example 20

Microcapsule compositions are described in Example 2, wherein the active core is leutinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH, a decapeptide of molecular weight 1182) and the polymer concentration is ˜40% w/w. Release profiles of the active core from the composition in an aqueous physiological environment is described in Example 2, and is plotted as cumulative percentage release versus time, and presented in FIG. 54

Burst-free, continuous and complete release is achieved within 35 days, similar to Histatin acetate.

Example 21

Microcapsule compositions are prepared as described in Example 2, wherein an additive such as sodium salt (carbonate or bicarbonate) is added to the inner aqueous phase at concentrations of 1-10% w/w to maintain the biological activity of the released polypeptide.

Burst-free, variable release from 1-28 days is achieved similar to Examples 2 & 3, and the released polypeptide is biologically active until 30 days, due to the presence of the sodium salt.

Example 22

Microcapsule compositions are prepared as described in Example 2, wherein an additive such as a nonionic surfactant, polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene block copolymer (Pluronics F68 and F127) is added to either the inner oil or the aqueous phase at concentrations from 10-100% w/w, to maintain the biological activity of the released polypeptide.

Burst-free, continuous release from 1-35 days is achieved similar to Examples 2 & 3, and the released polypeptide is bioactive due to the presence of the surfactant.

Example 23

Cumulative histatin release from the microcapsule compositions described in Examples 1 through 11 and release profiles plotted in FIGS. 49 and 50 show the burst-free, programmable peptide release for variable duration from 1-100 days. Virtually any pattern of cumulative release is achievable over a 100 day duration by a judicious blending of several compositions, as shown in FIG. 53. 

1. A process for preparing controlled release compositions characterized by burst-free, sustained, programmable release of biologically active agents or active core, comprising: dissolving biodegradable poly(lactide/glycolide), in uncapped from and biodegradable poly(lactide/glycolide) in end-capped form in methylene chloride, and dissolving a biologically active agent or active core in water; adding the aqueous layer to the polymer solution and emulsifying to provide an inner water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion; stabilizing the w/o emulsion in a solvent-saturated aqueous phase containing an oil-in-water (o/w) emulsifier; adding said w/o emulsion to an external aqueous layer containing oil-in-water emulsifier to form a ternary emulsion; and stirring the resulting water-in-oil (w/o/w) emulsion for sufficient time to remove said solvent, and rinsing hardened microcapsules with water and lyophilizing said hardened microcapsules.
 2. The process of claim 1 wherein a solvent-saturated external aqueous phase is added to emulsify the inner w/o emulsion prior to addition of the external aqueous layer, to provide microcapsules of narrow size distribution range between 0.05-500 μm.
 3. The process of claim 1 wherein a low temperature of about 0-4 degree C. is provided during preparation of the inner w/o emulsion, and a low temperature of about 4-20 degree C. is provided during preparation of the w/o/w emulsion to provide a stable emulsion and efficient encapsulation.
 4. The process of claim 1 wherein a 100/0 blend of uncapped and end-capped polymer is used to provide release of the biologically active agents or active core in a continuous and sustained manner without a lag phase.
 5. The process of claim 1, wherein the biologically active agent is a polypeptide.
 6. The process of claim 5, wherein said polypeptide is any of the vaccine agents against enterotoxigenic E. coli selected from the group consisting CFA/I, CFA/II, CS1, CS3, CS6, and CS17, ETEC-related enterotoxins, and combinations thereof.
 7. The process of claim 6, wherein said polypeptide is CFA/I.
 8. The process of claim 7, wherein said CFA/I polypeptide is synthetic and is selected from the group of synthetic peptides containing the CFA/I pilus protein T-cell epitopes: 4(Asn-Ile-Thr-Val-Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro), 8(Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu), 12(Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp), 15(Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp-Gly-Asn-Ala), 20(Ala-Asp-Gly-Asn-Ala-Leu-Pro-Ser-Ala-Val), 26(Pro-Ser-Ala-Val-Lys-Leu-Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pro), 72(Leu-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Gln-Met-Pro-Ile-Ser), 78(Met-Pro-Ile-Ser-Val-Ser-Trp-Gly-Gly-Gln), 87(Gln-Val-Leu-Ser-Thr-Thr-Ala-Lys-Glu-Phe), 126(Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr), and 133(Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser-Gly-Val-Val-Ser-Leu-Val), and mixtures thereof; synthetic peptides containing CFA/I pilus protein B-cell (antibody) epitopes: 3 (Lys-Ana-Ile-Thr-Val-Thr-Ala-Ser-Val), 11 (Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp), 22(Gly-Asn-Ala-Leu-Pro-Ser-Ala-Val), 32(Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pro-Ala-Ser-Lys-Thr-Phe-Lys-Thr-Phe-Glu-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Val), 32(Ala-Tyr-Ser-Pro-Ala-Ser-Lys-Thr-Phe), 38(Lys-Thr-Phe-Glu-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Val), 66(Pro-Gln-Leu-Thr-Asp-Val-Leu-Asn-Ser), 93(Ala-Lys-Glu-Phe-Glu-Ala-Ala-Ala), 124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr), 127(Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser), 124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Thr-Ser), and mixtures thereof; and synthetic peptides containing CFA/I pilus protein T-cell and B-cell (antibody) epitopes: 3(Lys-Asn-Ile-Thr-Val-Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro), 8(Thr-Ala-Ser-Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp), 11(Val-Asp-Pro-Val-Ile-Asp-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp), 20(Ala-Asp-Gly-Asn-Ala-Leu-Pro-Ser-Ala-Val), 124(Lys-Thr-Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser), and 126(Ala-Gly-Thr-Ala-Pro-Thr-Ala-Gly-Asn-Tyr-Ser), and mixtures thereof.
 9. The process of claim 1, wherein release rates and duration are achieved by blending said uncapped and said end-capped forms of poly(lactide/glycolide) polymer in different amounts within the same microcapsule, wherein the greater the amount of uncapped form of poly(lactide/glycolide) the faster the release rate and the shorter the release duration.
 10. The process of claim 1, wherein when the ratio of uncapped polymer to end-capped polymer is increased, the release rate of the active ingredient increases.
 11. The process of claim 1, wherein the uncapped polymer and end-capped polymer is present in ratios ranging from 100/0 to 1/99, respectively.
 12. The process of claim 1, wherein the uncapped polymer and end-capped polymer is present in ratios ranging from 90/10 to 40/60.
 13. The process of claim 1, wherein the ratio between the lactide and glycotide glycolide (L/G) component is within the range of 40/60 to 0/100.
 14. The process of claim 1, wherein the ratio between the lactide and glycolide (L/G) component is within the range of 90/10 to 40/60.
 15. The process of claim 1, wherein the ratio between the lactide and glycolide (L/G) component is within the range of 48/52 to 52/48.
 16. A process for preparing controlled release characterized by burst-free, sustained, programmable release of biologically active agents, comprising: dissolving biodegradable poly(lactide/glycolide) in end-capped form in methylene chloride, and dissolving a biologically active agent or active core in water; adding the aqueous layer to the polymer solution and emulsifying to provide an inner water-in-oil emulsion; stabilizing the w/o emulsion in a solvent-saturated aqueous phase containing an oil-in-water emulsifier; adding said stabilized w/o emulsion to an external aqueous layer containing oil-in-water (w/o/w) emulsion for sufficient time to remove said solvent; and rinsing hardened microcapsules with water; and lyophilizing said hardened microcapsules.
 17. The process of claim 16 wherein a solvent-saturated external aqueous phase is added to emulsify the inner w/o emulsion prior to addition of the external aqueous layer, to provide microcapsules of narrow size distribution range between 0.05-500 μm.
 18. The process of claim 16 wherein a low temperature of about 0-4 degree C. is provided during preparation of the inner w/o emulsion, and a low temperature of about 4-20 degree C. is provided during preparation of the w/o/w emulsion to provide a stable emulsion and efficient encapsulation. 